This archive report was first published on 24 August 2020.
On August 24, 2020, the Court of Appeal suspended proceedings of a case filed by Josiah Arabu Moriasi, the embattled chief executive of the Youth Enterprise Development Fund, challenging his removal from office.
According to a ruling by a three-judge bench, the board's chairman, Dr. Victor Mwongera, will not be punished for contempt for disobeying an order to freeze the sacking of Mr. Moriasi.
Justices William Ouko, Jamilla Mohammed, and Sankale ole Kantai made the ruling after the board filed an appeal against the Employment and Labour Relations Court's decision to bar Mr. Moriasi's removal.
Earlier, Labour judge Hellen Wasilwa had cited Dr. Mwongera in contempt for defying orders barring removal of Mr. Moriasi and he was bound for sentencing.
The judges of the appeal's court found that the board has an arguable appeal against the Justice Wasilwa's decisions.
"The applicants face the risk of punishment for contempt of court and have been summoned to court in that regard," said the judges.
Mr. Moriasi was appointed the Youth Fund's CEO in October 2016 for a three-year period with provision in the contract that the term was subject to renewal for a further three years based on performance.
His fixed-term contract ended on April 30, 2020, and was extended by six months. However, the board then voted to sack him over claims of poor performance and mismanaging the organisation.
