The office of the Attorney General through Solicitor General Kennedy Ogeto has moved to court seeking to overturn the court decision that blocked the implementation of the Statehouse compulsory leave order directed to all procurement and government accounting officers.
Ogeto, who serves as the head of accounting and legal lead officer at the office of the Attorney general in his appeal on Friday termed the orders by Justice Makau as an impediment to the war on the purge on corrupt state officers.
On Wednesday the Employment and Labour Relations Court handed government accountants and procurement officers reprieve after suspending the Statehouse circular ordering them to proceed on leave.
The circular released on June 4, 2018, by the Head Of Public Service Joseph Kinyua was subjected to an interventionary application by activist Okiya Omtatah.
[caption caption="Activist Okiya Omtata "]
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Omtatah petitioned for a determination on the validity of the directive that also required that the officers are vetted afresh for their jobs.
“Vetting does not require dismissal from office unless it is a witch-hunt. In fact, dismissal from office is pre-emptive of any vetting...It can only come after the vetting and findings that an officer is not suitable to hold a specific office. Kenyans have elected due process over dictatorship,” argued Mr Omtata.
Kinyua and the Attorney General were listed in Mr Omtata’s suit as respondents.
Justice Onesmus Makau issued an interim suspension of the circular pending hearing and determination on the application from all the parties.
He stated that the directive had been issued hurriedly and without the involvement of the public.
Statehouse had directed that all the officers hand over to their immediate deputies and proceed on a 30-day leave as pressure mounts on the head of state to tame corruption.
[caption caption="Solicitor General Kennedy Ogeto"]
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Dozens of corruption exposes implications public servants and state officers have in recent days left Kenyans helpless and wondering when they will be at least spared from the overboard devour on public resources.
