This archive report was first published on 2 July 2020.
Published on July 2, 2020, a court ruling has found Youth Enterprise Development Fund board chairman Victor Mwongera guilty of disobeying orders to freeze the sacking of CEO Josiah Moriasi.
Justice Hellen Wasilwa ruled that Mwongera and the board knowingly defied the order to temporarily suspend the decision not to renew Moriasi's employment contract.
The judge stated that the law on contempt is clear, and a party cannot plead incapability of enforcing a court order.
Dr. Mwongera will be sentenced later.
According to the judge, the order made by the court was treated casually by the respondents, who even denied Moriasi access to his office among other actions.
Justice Wasilwa said, 'The respondents treated the order contemporary and are therefore liable to being punished.'
Mr. Moriasi had moved to court after the agency's board resolved not to renew his three-year contract over claims of poor performance and mismanaging the organisation.
The judge dismissed the chairman's argument that the order was incapable of being obeyed because there was no employer-employee relationship between the board and Moriasi.
She stated that the chairman and board were aware of the order dated May 4, but instead blocked Moriasi's entry by locking his office and confiscating the keys.
