This archive report was first published on 10 July 2020.
On July 10, 2020, a Nairobi court found Health CS Mutahi Kagwe guilty of contempt of court for attempting to transfer two senior officers of the National Quality Control Laboratory.
The ruling by Justice Onesmus Makau marks a significant escalation in the tussle between Mr Kagwe and the two seniormost officers of the National Quality Control Laboratory (NQCL), Dr Hezekiah Chepkwony and Dr Pius Wanjala.
According to the court, Mr Kagwe's decision to deploy Dr Chepkwony to the Kenya Medical Training College was in violation of a January 31, 2020, ruling that halted the medics' transfers unless they 'complied with the Constitution, statute law and the terms of their contracts of service as contained in the HR Policy and Procedure Manual for Civil Service.'
Mr Kagwe has been summoned to appear before the judge virtually, either personally or through his lawyer, on July 23 'for mitigation and sentencing.'
The court has also declared 'invalid' the transfer letters to Dr Chepkwony and Dr Wanjala, seconding them to KMTC and the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital.
