An attempt by Kenya Pipeline Company’s board to set aside orders suspending Joe Kimutai Sang’s appointment as acting Managing Director has been quashed by the court.
This comes after Employment and Labour Relations Court Justice James Rika denied the board’s application to vary his orders issued on February 3, 2023.
“Whether the conservatory orders should remain in place, or are vacated, is a matter to be determined, after hearing inter-parties,” Justice Rika directed.
Lawyer Eric Gumbo had asked the judge to overturn his own orders postponing Sang’s appointment, claiming that the current orders had paralyzed the corporation’s whole activities.
“The impugned orders have placed the Board and KPC into limbo in that the proper carrying out of the company’s mission and critical activities is jeopardized, much to the detriment of the general members of the public who are unaware of these proceedings,” Lawyer Gumbo remarked.
The contested orders were issued by Justice Rika in response to a petition filed by the LSK disputing the board’s decision to reinstate Sang as MD, although in an acting capacity.
On January 23, Sang was restored as Managing Director in an interim capacity by KPC’s board, a month after he was acquitted in a corruption case involving Sh1.9 billion regarding the Kisumu Oil Jetty project.
In urging the Labour Court to vacate the orders that suspended him from office, lawyer Gumbo said “LSK obtained undeserved orders” as Sang was condemned unheard and removed from office.
