News
Wako stops order for arrest of varsity boss
A court order to have the Kenyatta University vice chancellor jailed for contempt has been suspended.
In a letter to the Office of the President, Attorney General Amos Wako advised the permanent secretary for Internal Security to suspend the warrant issued against Prof Olive Mugenda and the chairman of the University Council, Prof Onesmo ole Moiyoi.
According to state counsel Anthony Ombuayo, the AG was responding to a letter from the PS asking him to interpret two court orders that have caused confusion about the jurisdiction of the High Court and the Industrial Court.
Mr Justice Isaac Mukunya of the Industrial Court had ordered the arrest and imprisonment of the VC and the council chairman for failing to respond to summons.
The drama started when Kenyatta University lecturers Lucy Mugwere and Joel Menya challenged a decision to suspend them, allegedly for absconding duty, at the ministry of Labour.
The lecturers moved to the Industrial Court when the university failed to implement the ministry’s recommendations to reinstate and compensate them.
They went back to the court when the university ignored its directive to reinstate them.
Meanwhile, Prof Mugenda obtained interim orders from the High Court to stop the proceedings in the Industrial Court. Mr Justice Mukunya then ordered the arrest and imprisonment of Prof Mugenda and Prof Moiyoi for contempt.
The university now wants the judge cited for contempt of the High Court.
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The AG should stop interfering with the judicial process. This office needs to be reformed. Where is parliament? Its parliament's job.
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