The Nairobi County Government is silently pushing for an out of court settlement in reinstating thirteen legal officers suspended late last year by Acting County Secretary Leboo Ole Morintat, The Informer has established.
According to impeccable sources at City Hall, Leboo is expected to release letters of recall this week. However, the legal officers are said to be opposed to the move. The legal officers sued Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko saying the move to dismiss them was unjustified.
“The administration is keen to have the officers reinstated. The letters of recall were to be signed off last Friday but the County Secretary was out of town.” A senior officer said. Last year, more than 50 senior City Hall staff members were suspended over allegations of financial irregularities.
Thirteen of them were drawn from the legal department and six others from Finance department were affected. They include Director of Legal services Karisa Iha, lawyers Gad Awuonda, Nyagara Nyamweya, Evans Mogire, John Ombogi and Newton Mung’ala.
However, Violet Oyangi, a senior legal officer received suspension letter but she is still in office. Oyangi signed the controversial JamboPay deal between the Nairobi County Government and Webtribe. The suspension letters were signed by the Acting County Secretary.
“You are hereby instructed to proceed on compulsory leave with immediate effect and not later than October 2, 2017 until you are recalled to the office. Please not that non-compliance will be dealt with according to the laid down regulation.” The letter signed by Leboo read in part.
The Nairobi County Assembly vetting committee is yet to table the report of the nominated County Secretary Peter Kariuki since November last year. If approved, Kariuki will take over from Leboo who is serving in an acting capacity.