The Employment and Labour Relations Court has stopped the swearing-in of Hustler Fund board members appointed by President William Ruto.
Justice Monica Mbaru ruled that the board members shall not assume office or discharge their duties which they had been appointed to serve for a period of three years.
The members include Irene Metha-Karimi, Lawrence Chelimo, Paul Musyimi and Hardlyne Lusui.
“On gazette notice No.648 of and 652 of 20/1/2023, the interested party (Hustler Fund Board members) shall not assume office or discharge duties of the member of the financial inclusion fund board therefore shall not take oath of office,” the judge ruled.
The swearing-in was stopped after the director of Operation Linda Ugatuzi Prof. Fred Ogolla moved to court seeking to stop the members from assuming office.
Ogolla argued that the four were appointed without advertisement for the position and without public participation.
“The President’s move to handpick the four members blocked qualified people from being appointed,” Ogolla said.
Prof Ogolla together with Kelvin Macharia and lawyer Benard Okello argued that the four were not appointed in a fair and competitive manner.
