Former Laikipia Governor Ndiritu Muriithi, who also served as the Chairperson of Azimio la Umoja campaign Secretariat, has been summoned over contempt of court.
In his ruling on Tuesday, September 20, Nyeri Employment and Labour Relations Judge, Njagi Marete, summoned the politician and 13 others for failure to re-instate 35 doctors who were fired during his tenure.
The individuals face up to six months in jail or a fine for fitting the doctors in 2019.
“The sentence will be meted upon each of the summoned persons, who will also be expected to present themselves personally in open court,” ruled Marete.
In a suit filed by the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), Muriithi was found in contempt of a July 2019 court order where he was ordered to rehire the doctors.
He was sued alongside other leaders among them former county secretary Karanja Njora and finance executive Boniface Murungi.
Others were health executive, Rose Maitai, the payroll manager and the entire County Public Service Board (CPSB).
In their defence, the board as well as the county government officials filed appeal cases at the Court of Appeal, which were dismissed.
“The county government has not even annexed any draft memorandum of appeal demonstrating the nature of the grievances it intends to take on appeal,” the judges ruled at the time.
Muriithi failed to retain his seat in Laikipia County and lost to UDA’s Joshua Irungu in the August 2022 General Election.
The former Governor, who ran on a Jubilee Party ticket, got only 37,905 votes against Irungu’s 80,849.
in 2022, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga appointed Muriithi to head his campaigns which he eventually lost to President William Ruto.