NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 1- The vetting of Nairobi County Executive Committee (CEC) members will now proceed after the Employment and Labour relations court dismissed a suit challenging the exercise.
The 10 CECs appointed by Governor Johnson Sakaja will be vetted by the Nairobi County Assembly starting next week, after the County Assembly Clerk releases the vetting schedule.
The petitioners, Association of Muslim lawyers and the Nubian rights forum, wanted the exercise quashed on ground that the Governor’s list was discriminatory as no muslim featured in the appointments.
In response, the Governor through his lawyer Duncan Okatch opposed the allegations, arguing that the agenda of the petitioners was to use the suit to create an imaginary religious rift which he observed to be a dangerous trajectory.
Justice Ann Mwaure while dismissing the suit terming it premature, also adding that there was no evidence adduced to show that members of those communities made application for the various positions and were not considered on the basis of religion.
She also noted that the Governor followed all the laid out procedures in making the appointments.
“The claim of discrimination is generalized and in absence of any evidence to prove this , the court would be reluctant to assume such as the position,” the judge ruled.
The judge further said if the petitioners are still dissatisfied with the process they can go to court with clear proof of allegations of discrimaination after the vetting exercise is complete.
