The Employment and Labour Relations Court has ordered Kenyatta university to reinstate suspended Vice-Chancellor Prof. Paul Wainaina as a tussle over the institution’s land escalates.
Wainaina on July 12 announced that he had been sacked and the university council replaced after they refused to hand over part of the institution’s land to the government for World Health Organisation to develop an emergency hub.
In the latest orders, Justice Jacob Gakeri reinstated the VC pending hearing of Wainaina’s petition challenging his removal from office.
“Pending the hearing and determination of this application inter-parties, this honourable court is pleased to issue a temporary order suspending the implementation of the decision contained in the letter dated July 12 by Professor Crispus Kiamba in toto suspending, terminating and/or dismissing the petitioner from the Office of the Vice-Chancellor, rendering his position vacant and/or revoking his salary,” justice Gakeri ruled.
Wainaina, through his lawyer Manwa Hosea, told the court that his removal from office on orders of Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua was illegal. He argues that the sacking of a vice-chancellor is a preserve of the university council.
“The Head of Public Service continues to act in a manner that completely flouts the provisions of law on the rights of the applicant and continues to breach his rights to fair labour practices,” Mr Hosea told the court.
“An injustice has been [perpetrated] upon the applicant herein and this honourable court should remedy the said injustice by the Head of Public Service by urgently staying the impugned suspension.”
