Vihiga Governor Wilber Ottichilo risks imminent imprisonment for a term of six months for failing to obey court orders.
The warning was issued by Employment and Labour Relations Court Judge Mathews Nduma while giving a ruling on a petition by the besieged Vihiga County Secretary Francis Ominde.
Ominde was contesting a decision by the governor to subject County Executive Committee (CEC) members to three-year contracts.
Justice Nduma raised concern that the governor has in the past shown a tendency of disrespecting court orders, warning that if he disobeys the court, he will be imprisoned.
Meanwhile, the Judge ordered officers who were suspended upon expiry of their contracts to be issued with stay orders until the case filed by Ominde is heard and concluded.
In the petition, Ominde had accused Governor Ottichilo of contravening the County Government’s Act by subjecting CECs to contracts.
“The executive has to be fully in office to serve the full term the governor is in office, until another governor is elected and has constituted his cabinet,” said Ominde in his submissions.
However, for those who will work against the governor’s manifesto and the county together with poor service delivery are subjected to impeachment by the assembly.
Ominde has had legal battles with the governor since his suspension, and at one time in February 2019, the same court gave him stay orders which the county government did not fully implement.
