Order blocking recruitment of MCK board chair, members vacated
The Employment and Labour Relations Court has lifted orders that had stopped the recruitment of the chairperson and members of the Media Council of Kenya.
Justice Monicah Mbaru yesterday vacated the orders issued in a petition filed by rights activist Dr Magere Gikenyi, who claimed that the selection panel consisted of members who were nominated without due process.
He alleged that some of the persons shortlisted for the jobs were in full-time employment in the media sector while others hold positions that bar them from appointment to the council.
She also noted that there were two other petitions filed at the High Court in Kajiado and Milimani over the same issue and based on the same facts.
“In view of the ongoing matters before the High Court, which have been placed together, this court will hear the petition on merit. The interim orders are vacated to allow the court to hear all parties on merit,” said the judge.
The matter will be heard for mention on March 20, 2023.
Information Communication and Technology (ICT) Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo had on January 26, unveiled a 13-member panel to select the new MCK board members.
The panel comprised of Macharia Gaitho (Kenya Editors Guild), Oscar Obonyo (Kenya Union of Journalists), William Oloo Janak (Kenya Correspondents Association and Marlene Achieng Abongó (Law Society of Kenya) among others.
