This archive report was first published on 3 October 2019.
Published on October 3, 2019, a petition filed at the Employment and Labor Relations Court in Nairobi by the Union of Kenya Civil Servants (UKCS) seeks to oust Steven Githaiga, the Managing Director of Tana and Arthi Rivers Developing Authority (TARDA).
The union claims that Githaiga's appointment as the Managing Director is illegal, citing that he did not undergo the requisite recruitment process as provided under the Constitution of Kenya and other applicable laws.
According to lawyer Jaoko Alexander, representing the union, Githaiga lacks an appointment letter from the appointing authority or a signed contract from the TARDA board.
Jaoko further alleged that Githaiga was handpicked and that no applications were allowed from qualified and interested Kenyans. He also claimed that no interviews were conducted by the Public Service Commission (PSC) as required by law, and that there was no vetting or advertisement to allow qualified members of the public to apply for the position.
The union is seeking a court order to suspend Githaiga from executing his mandate pending the hearing and determination of the application. They also want Githaiga to be removed from office due to his alleged involvement in the misappropriation of over Sh 645,300,596 under his watch in 2015 and 2017, as revealed by the Auditor General.
The Cabinet Secretary for East African Community and Regional Development, Public Service Commission, Director Department of Civil Registration, Githaiga, and the Attorney General are respondents in the suit.
