All operations at the Child Welfare Society of Kenya (CWSK) were reportedly put on hold from Wednesday, December 18, after the society’s board issued an order for compulsory leave to all employees leaving the management of all its 15 children homes in limbo.
The society which is under the department of social protection is directly managed by Principal Secretary Nelson Marwa and headed by President Uhuru Kenyatta as the patron.
In a report broadcast by NTV, the employees were ordered to go on compulsory leave unconditionally, where the main offices for the society remained closed since Wednesday, December 18.
“We were ordered to get out of our offices after the Chief Operating Officer met with the current board.
“There was no employee who received an earlier warning or indication that they would be forced to go on leave,” remarked a worker.
The employees further blamed the CWSK management for the prevailing woes including an order by the High Court to freeze new accounts for the society on November 15, on allegations of conducting illegal transactions amounting to Ksh117.2 million.
Justice Weldon Korir issued the temporary order in a case where activist Okiya Omtatah had also sued the society for opening new bank accounts and changing signatories without following due procedure.
The judge said the new accounts would remain frozen pending the hearing and determination of the dispute since there were three similar cases on the matter in the courts.
On Tuesday, December 17, the High Court issued a warrant of arrest to Treasury Principal Secretary Julius Muia for contempt of court where he was expected to give more details on suspected illegal cash flows at CWSK.
Justice David Majanja issued the directive to the Inspector General of police Hillary Mutyambai to facilitate the immediate arrest of the PS.
"Warrant of arrest issued against PS Treasury for failure to attend court. The warrant of arrest to be executed by the Inspector General Kenya Police Service to be availed in court on December 18, 2019," ordered Justice Majanja as quoted by K24 Digital.
Further, Majanja declined to lift orders freezing the Child Welfare Society of Kenya's (CWSK) bank accounts.
The court on December 10, 2019, froze the operation of another account belonging to the society.
