The High Court has on Friday suspended a ban on foreign travel imposed by President Uhuru Kenyatta's Government on lecturers.
In a case filed by the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) against Attorney General Githu Muigai and Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua, the dons argued that the ban was detrimental to their work as they were unable to attend important international conferences and workshops.
A letter dated September 20th sent by Mrs A. Mworia, a Senior Deputy Secretary in the Education Ministry, to all Vice-Chancellors and principals of constituent colleges stated: “This is to notify you that it has been decided, until further advised otherwise, that no government official will travel outside the country.”
Dr George Omondi, UASU's University of Nairobi Chapter Secretary described the travel restrictions as discriminatory and in violation of lecturers' constitutional rights.
[caption caption="Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua"]
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The travel restriction on lecturers was part of a wider directive issued by the Government on September 13th that barred all government officials from travelling outside the country without clearance.
Kinyua, who is President Kenyatta's Chief of Staff sent a letter stating: “This is to notify you that it has been decided, until further advised otherwise, no government official will travel outside the country without clearance by the president.”
“For avoidance of any doubt, the officials in reference include Cabinet secretaries, principal secretaries and officers in ministries, chief executive officers of parastatals and their officers and Board of Directors of parastatals,” he added.
The letter was copied to Director of Immigration Gordon Kihalangwa.
[caption caption="UASU leaders addressing a past Press Conference"]
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The directive came barely a month after Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission's (IEBC) Roselyne Akombe was temporarily denied permission to leave Kenya for the United States.
The issue was resolved but was pinned on a lack of clearance from the Office of the President.
