Employment and Labour Relations Court has ordered two police officers who were sacked for allegedly blocking President Uhuru Kenyatta motorcade in Mombasa be reinstated back to the National Police Service.
Judge James Rika said police constable Joel Atuti and corporal Barnaba Ruto were unfairly dismissed because they were not accorded a fair trial by their bosses.
The judge further said that it was evident that the officers never intended to put the President’s life at risk because there was no prior communication that the motorcade would be using the road for police to clear all obstacles.
The duo were dismissed in January 2016 after they allegedly blocked the motorcade along Sabasaba-Nyali Bridge road.
They had allegedly parked their patrol vehicle in the middle of the road where they were caught red handed receiving bribe from a matatu driver.
Rika further noted that Atuti and Ruto should have been charged before a criminal court for corruption and bribery instead of the case being heard by their seniors.
The duo had moved to the court to challenge decision by NPS to dismiss them saying the decision was illegal because they had not been given a fair chance to defend themselves.
In his ruling, justice Rika said it was evident that the officers never intended to put the President’s life at risk because they were dismissed while in their line of duty.