Court allows NTSA board recruit new Director General after opposed reappointment of George Njau
The High Court has allowed the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) to recruit a new Director General in line with the constitution following the expiry of George Njau’s term.
The court ordered the NTSA board and the Ministry of Roads and Transport to ensure the recruitment is in compliance with Chapter 6 of the constitution.
Employment and Labour relations Court Judge Byram Ongaya issued the order following a petition filed by Edwin Oduor Were challenging the renewal of Njau’s contract for a further three-year team.
“As it is alleged that the interested party’s contract of service has since lapsed, pending the inter-party hearing or further orders by the court, the respondent is at liberty to recruit a qualified person to fill the accruing vacancy in strict compliance with chapter 6 of the constitution of Kenya,” reads court order.
In the case, Were wants the court to order NTSA to competitively recruit competent individuals for the position of Director General claiming that Njao’s term expired last year and that he has applied to have his contract extended for a further term of three years despite his initial term being marred with gross short-comings and illegal conduct.
“Worse of all the interested party has superintended the authority through deliberate mismanagement and occasioned the deaths of thousands of Kenyans through road carnage which could have been avoided if offered proper leadership and ensured the authority had working systems,” Were stated.
He argued that Njau failed to achieve the targets set for him as DG during his term and yet the board has not bothered to take action and has instead recommended renewal of his contract.
“The interested party has throughout his tenure as the DG failed the target set for him to achieve during his tenure yet the board has not bothered to take actions at all and has without shame recommended renewal of his contract as the DG of the authority,” he stated.
In the case, Njao has been named as the interested party with the respondents being the board of directors of NTSA and Ministry of Roads and Transport.
The case has been scheduled for mention on January 19, 2023 for further orders.
