LAWYER CHALLENGES APPOINTMENT OF MERU COUNTY ASSEMBLY CLERK.

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BY NT CORRESPONDENT.

An advocate has moved to court challenging the recruitment of the clerk for the Meru County Assembly.

In his petition Lawyer Kenneth Muriuki wants Meru High Court to declare the entire process, including recruitment, nomination, vetting, debate and appointment of Jacob Kirari as the clerk of Meru County Assembly as null and void.

Muriuki claimed the Assembly compromised its integrity and violated the constitution thereby rendering the process a nullity.

He also claims no public participation was conducted in the recruitment process.

Further, he says the Meru County Assembly Service Board as constituted on February 21, was in violation of Article 27(8) of the constitution and any business, action or activities conducted by the board, was a nullity.

Muriuki said the MCAs overlooked the constitutional and statutory requirements in the approval of Kirari as the clerk.

“It was in violation of the provisions of the constitution, the standing orders, County Government Act and public appointments (County Assemblies Approval) Act, No 5 of 2017 and therefore bully,” the lawyer said.

He argues that following the retirement of former clerk Justus Kiambi Arithi on or about July 30 last year, Meru County Assembly service board embarked on recruitment of his replacement.

The board later appointed the deputy clerk Charles Muriithi Launi the acting clerk, pending the recruitment of a new clerk.

An advertisement was placed in a local daily on August 27, 2019 inviting interested candidates to apply by September 9.

Court documents in our possession stated that at the date of advertisement, the board was constituted of the chairman Joseph Kaberia, Godwin Mutembei, George Kaliunga, Kobia Eringo, Norah Mutai and Charles Launi. He said this was in violation of two third gender rule.

A report dated February 25, shows Jacob Kirari scored 90%, Earnest Kimaita 80%, Jenaro Ithinji 74%, Justin Miriti 70%, Ibrahim Kirimi 76%, Stephen Karani 71% and Johnson Nkanata 55%.

Muriuki claims that the report did not disclose the place where it was made from thereby, raising eyebrows on its thoroughness. He added that the chairperson of the County Assembly who is also the speaker was presiding over the county Assembly on February 24, when he ought to have prepared the said report.

The report recommended Kirari to be appointed to the position and his name was forwarded to the Assembly which was debated and approved him.

According to the petitioner, what transpired in the County Assembly on the afternoon of February 27 as regard to the approval of Kirari remains comical satire devoid of any constitutional and statutory compliance in respect of appointments in public offices and approval by the County Assembly as set under County Governments Act.

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