[2021] KEHC 7412 (KLR)

[2021] KEHC 7412 (KLR)

The court found that the removal of the Petitioner as Chairperson of Committees was unlawful and procedurally improper. The position was created by the Standing Orders of the County Assembly, and its removal was governed by those Orders, specifically Standing Order No. 173, which required that the person be served...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2021] KEHC 7412 (KLR)
Parties
Applicant: Hon. Emeritus Kasee Musya; Respondent: The Speaker, County Assembly of Kitui; Respondent: The County Assembly of Kitui
Court
High Court
Court Station
High Court at Kitui
Jurisdiction
Kenya
Case Number
Constitutional Petition 17 of 2020
Procedural Posture
Constitutional Petition / Judgment
Outcome
Petition allowed in part; declarations issued; damages awarded; reinstatement denied as office defunct.
Judges
BB Limo
Legal Topics
Fair Administrative Action, Removal From Public Office, County Government Procedure, Standing Orders Compliance
Source Language
en
Constitutional Law Administrative Law Fair Administrative Action Removal From Public Office County Government Procedure Standing Orders Compliance

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Parties

Hon. Emeritus Kasee Musya

Applicant

The Speaker, County Assembly of Kitui

Respondent

The County Assembly of Kitui

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Constitutional Petition / Judgment

  1. 1 Whether the removal of the Petitioner as Chairperson of Committees was lawful and in compliance with the Constitution, statute, and Standing Orders.
  2. 2 Whether the Petitioner was accorded fair administrative action and a right to be heard prior to removal.
  3. 3 Whether the process violated the Petitioner's constitutional rights under Articles 25 and 47.

Ratio Decidendi

The court found that the removal of the Petitioner as Chairperson of Committees was unlawful and procedurally improper. The position was created by the Standing Orders of the County Assembly, and its removal was governed by those Orders, specifically Standing Order No. 173, which required that the person be served with written notice of the intended vote of no confidence and be given an opportunity to be heard. The court determined that the Petitioner was not afforded a fair hearing or adequate notice prior to his removal, in violation of Article 47 of the Constitution and the Fair Administrative Action Act. The Respondents' argument that removal from the Liaison Committee sufficed was...

Court Disposition

Petition allowed in part; declarations issued; damages awarded; reinstatement denied as office defunct.

Orders

  • A declaration is issued that the process of removing the Petitioner as Chairperson of Committees violated the Standing Orders, Fair Administrative Action Act, and the Constitution.
  • The Petitioner is awarded Kshs. 500,000 as general damages for unlawful removal.