Two in court over Semelang'o sacking

Two youth have gone to court seeking an order to rescind the de-gazettement of Gor Semelang'o as chairman of the Youth Enterprise Fund.

In an affidavit, the petitioners Mr Evan Muchahi Mburu and Mr Joseph Kibathi, said the decision to sack Mr Semelang'o was unconstitutional.

They have sued the Cabinet Secretary for Devolution and Planning Anne Waiguru as well as Attorney General Githu Muigai for the de-gazettement.

They say they are young Kenyans who are direct beneficiaries of the Youth Enterprise Development Fund and the removal of office of Mr Semelang'o through the publication of Gazette notice No.2339/2014 was in contravention of his and their fundamental rights.

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Mr Semelang'o was sacked on March 1, 2014 and the petitioners said no reasons have so far been given as to why the decision was taken. (READ: Is the Youth Enterprise Fund really meeting its objectives?)

"The petitioners seek a conservatory order reinstating Mr Evans Gor Semelang'o as the existing chairman of the Youth Enterprise Development board," lawyer Paul Mugambi told the court.

He said the petitioners contend that Mr Semelango's de-gazettement was an action made without any clear reason and in complete violation of his Constitutional right and administrative justice.

"Unless the Devolution CS and Attorney General are restrained, their action will create a precedence of public officers to violate the Constitution with impunity, not to mention the damage and injury to Semelango's reputation and credit in the society as a result of the innuendo created by the absence of reasons for his sacking," the lawyer added.

The application has been certified as urgent and has been slotted to go before a judge for determination.