Former Laikipia Governor Ndiritu Muriithi and 13 other former county employees were found guilty of contempt of court in a case in which they were accused of ignoring court orders to reinstate sacked doctors.
Karanja Njora, Boniface Murungi Ndai, Paul Njenga Waweru, Rose Maitai, Dr. Donald Mogoi, Shadrack M’ituuru, Margaret Mwago, Timothy Wamiti, Christina Kibet, Eng. John Aruma, Benson Sururu, Patricia Wangui, and Moses Wanyoike are among the other 13 members.
Judge D.K Njagi Marete of the Nyeri Employment and Labour Relations Court has thus ordered Muriithi and his co-accused to appear in open court on October 13, 2022 for sentencing, where they each face up to 6 months in jail for disobeying court orders.
On August 12, 2020, the Public Service Commission (PSC) issued its decision in response to an appeal filed by the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU), ordering that then-Governor Muriithi and the Laikipia County Public Service Board reinstate the doctors.
The PSC ruled that the doctors were wrongfully terminated and thus entitled to all withheld remuneration and benefits until their reinstatement date.
On October 19, 2020, the Nyeri Employment and Labour Relations Court adopted the PSC ruling and ordered that it be followed.
The court orders, however, were completely ignored by the Laikipia County Executives, the Governor, and the County Public Service Board.
On September 1, 2022, newly elected Laikipia Governor Joshua Irungu signed a return-to-work agreement with KMPDU, allowing 33 doctors fired by the administration of former Governor Muriithi to return to work immediately.
