Judge bows out of ejected Speaker’s case

A judge in a case in which former Baringo Assembly Speaker William Kamket is seeking to block his suspension from office Wednesday disqualified herself, citing personal reasons.

Justice Cecilia Githua, sitting at the High Court in Eldoret, said she was no longer in a position to continue hearing the case in which Mr Kamket, who is accused of incitement, has challenged his suspension by the county assembly.

“Some matters have come to my attention and I can no longer proceed with this matter permanently,” said the judge, to the surprise of Mr Kamket’s supporters who were ready for a hearing yesterday.

Mr Kamket’s lawyer Kipkoech Ng’etich took issue with the delay in the determination of the case, which he said amounted to justice denied for his client who is currently earning a quarter of his salary.

“We only hope the adjournment of the case will not catalyse a litany of illegalities in the county assembly as was witnessed when a purported ad-hoc committee suspended the Speaker, yet the case is still pending in court,” said Mr Ng’etich.

SCHEDULED FOR HEARING

The case is now scheduled for a hearing on April 8 with Justice George Kimondo.

This was the fifth time the case was coming up in court.

Earlier, the assembly’s lawyer, Ms Ledisha Kipsei, requested the court to put the case on hold until another suit at the Labour Relations Court in Nakuru, where the Speaker moved last Wednesday seeking to quash his ejection, is determined.

“We request that the court suspends the proceedings pending the ruling in Nakuru. Even if the court today makes a ruling, it will be an exercise in futility given that the Nakuru case is of a permanent nature while this is purely suspension,” said Ms Kipsei.

Mr Kamket was ejected after a petition to the House, but Justice Stephen Radido suspended his removal.