Judge: Settle Linda Okello's tight skirt case out of
Corporal Linda Okello (left) has been at the centre of public debate after this picture of her in a tight skirt ran in the Daily Nation earlier in 2014. FILE PHOTO | NATION
What you need to know:
- The suggestion had been made by State lawyer Paul Ojwang’.
- Ms Okello claims she was subjected to an unfair, flawed and unlawful inquiry.
- The police officer wants the court to declare the decision to put her on her defence as erroneous and unlawful.
A case by a Kiambu police officer against her bosses over unprocedural disciplinary proceedings after she appeared at a function in a tight-fitting skirt may be settled out of court.
Judge Maureen Onyango told parties in Ms Linda Okello’s suit to consider resolving the matter out of court.
The suggestion had been made by State lawyer Paul Ojwang’.
However, Ms Okello’s lawyer, Mr John Mbaluto, said he could not readily agree to the proposal since she had not talked to him about an out-of-court settlement.
“We have no objection to the request for additional time for the National Police Service Commission, the Inspector-General of Police and his deputy to give their response,” said Mr Mbaluto.
The Industrial Court judge ruled that Mr Ojwang’ should discuss the proposal with Mr Mbaluto.
“The National Police Service Commission, the Inspector-General of Police and his deputy are granted 14 days to file a response and approach Ms Okello’s lawyer to discuss an out-of-court settlement before a further directive on September 22,” said Lady Justice Onyango.
BLOWN OUT OF PROPORTION
In response, Mr Ojwang’ said: “I believe I can persuade the police to expunge the proceedings from the record, given that this issue was blown out of proportion by the media.”
Ms Okello sued her bosses over the action taken against her for being on duty “untidy”, contrary to the National Police Service Act, 2011, yet none of his supervisors had ever made complaints regarding her dressing.
She is seeking a declaration that the disciplinary proceedings against her for the alleged untidy mode of dressing were unprocedural and aimed at embarrassing her.
Ms Okello claims she was subjected to an unfair, flawed and unlawful inquiry.
The police officer, who is back on duty, claims that all the four witnesses who testified against her failed to produce evidence for wrongdoing on her part.
Although Lady Justice Onyango had, on May 23, issued an order stopping the proceedings, she defended herself on May 26.
The police officer wants the court to declare the decision to put her on her defence as erroneous and unlawful.
She also wants the court to quash the occurrence book entry of April 28 and the charge sheet.
