A section of Jubilee Party officials were on Thursday given an ultimatum by the Employment and Labour Relations Court in a suit filed at the High Court challenging their appointments.
The court ordered the party officials, alongside the National Executive Committee (NEC) members, to choose between keeping their positions within the former ruling party and working with the government.
In a statement, a wing in the Jubilee Party detesting their appointments disclosed the latest development, saying, “The Employment and Labour Relations Court has ordered Jubilee Party officials and National Executive Committee (NEC) members who accepted jobs in the Kenya Kwanza Government to choose between keeping their positions in the party or keeping their state jobs.”
“The court gave the individuals 30 days to make the decision,” Jubilee Party added.
The individuals in question include Nelson Dzuya, Joshua Kutuny, Naomi Shaban, Angwenyi Jimmy Nuru Ondiek, Peter Ole Mositet, Mutava Musyimi, and Joel Kibe.
President William Ruto, in October last year, appointed Naomi Shaban as the Chairperson of the Tobacco Control Board for a three-year term.
Ndzuya was also appointed as a member of the Non-Governmental Organization Coordination Board for three years while Angwenyi was appointed the Chairperson of the National Heroes Council.
The petition was filed by one Joseph Kagai, through lawyer Jackson Awele, who argued that the seven Jubilee Party NEC members’ tenure as both public officers and officials of the party was unconstitutional.
The latest move comes just days after the High Court overturned the decision of a wing of Jubilee Party to expel its former leadership in charge of the affairs of the party at the helm of former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s reign.
Effectively, Jubilee Vice Chairperson David Murathe ultimately survived a plot by some members of the party to expel him.
In a ruling that ultimately ended the power battle within the party, Jeremiah Kioni also retained his powers to continue acting in the capacity of the party’s Secretary General.
