Ousted directors of the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) want Cabinet Secretaries for Agriculture Peter Munya and Interior Fred Matiang’i to be fined and imprisoned for disobeying a court order that he had stopped his removal.
Through attorneys Benson Milimo and Ochieng Oduor, the former directors filed a request for contempt of court that the two CSs along with the Attorney General and the new KTDA directors be punished following elections held last month that led to the removal of the chief executive of the KTDA.
“With disobedience of the court orders, anarchy will prevail. The situation is dire and it requires the intervention of the court,” said the lawyers.
Judge James Makau was told yesterday that the board are still legally in office since the incoming team was elected against a court order.
They said the order of March 24, 2021, which halted leadership changes at the giant tea corporation, is still in effect.
The court also heard that armed police have barricaded KTDA offices and some staff have been locked out.
The alleged contemporaries are charged with violating a court order issued by Judge Anthony Mrima on March 24, 2021 suspending an Executive Order issued by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
On March 12, the President directed the Kenya Tea Board to celebrate elections in all tea factories within 60 days.
The two cabinet secretaries are said to have helped the new management team take over the KTDA and its factories.
Justice Makau directed the case file to be forwarded to Justice Mrima, who granted the order suspending the President’s Executive order.
He directed the ousted directors to provide the government officials with the contempt application.
The case will be mentioned on June 30 to confirm compliance and for further directions.
