CID boss fired after Garissa terror attack wants job back

A northeastern security and administration chief interdicted soon after a terrorist attack at the Garissa University College that claimed 148 lives has sued to get his job back.

Former Garissa CID boss Musa Chelelgo Yego, who was among nine security and administrative officers from the region who were removed from office for failing to prevent the April 2, 2015 terrorist attack, has sued the National Police Service Commission and the Inspector General of Police.

Mr Yego, who joined the service since 1981, claimed that the interdiction has left him in suspense for two years without any explanation from his employer or the IG.

Through his lawyer Nelson Mutai, he has denied being responsible for the fateful terrorist attack and ever being negligent in performing the functions of his office.

UNNECESSARY AGONY

Instead, he argued that if fair administration action is to be taken on reasonable timeliness, he has ultimately been subjected to unnecessary agony.

“The decision of the Commission to interdict him on public interest is outright contemptuous on the part of excellent service rendered by him, there are no reasons as to why the sued parties cannot take an administrative decision,” Mr Mutai said.

In his case documents, he claimed that the suspended officers were not in charge at the time of the tragedy.

He alleged that it was unreasonable to deny him an opportunity to serve after explaining to his bosses that on the day of the attack he was on official duty at a shooting competition in Gilgil to officially command the northeastern docket.

Mr Yego served at the Kenya Police College between 1988 and 1996 as an instructor before being promoted to a senior sergeant and inspector of police.

Between 1996 and 2002, he served as OCPD in Lang'ata, Dandora and Buruburu where incidents of crime reportedly dropped during his tenure before he was promoted to a chief inspector.

AL-SHABAAB ATTACKS

He has also served in the Africa Mission in Darfur, Sudan, as the chief of operations as well as contingent commander of the Kenya Civilian Police and in the Flying Squad.

He was transferred to northeastern as the county criminal officer in June 2013 at a time of rising attacks from Al-Shabaab.

He said he used to report to the DCI and sensitised locals on security vigilance through the Nyumba Kumi initiative and radio stations in the area.

But he was investigated and sent on suspension by a Mr Mohammed Amin, who blamed failure on his part on the officer.

And following the suspension, Mr Amin allegedly threw away Mr Yego’s household property from his residence at the time without notifying him.

He now wants the court to suspend the April 18, 2015 decision to remove him from office and that he be allowed to work until he attains the retirement age of 60.