Court Reinstates Ousted Baringo County Speaker

Justice Stephen Radido issued stay orders against his removal pending a suit challenging his ouster filed by residents of Arabal in Baringo County. 

Kamket moved to the Employment and Labour Relations Court under the certificate of urgency baring his removal and subsequent election of another county assembly speaker as advertised on a local daily on Thursday.   

Justice Radido ruled that the process by the assembly clerk to commence election of another speaker be temporarily halted considering the foregoing of the case and another pending before the Eldoret High Court challenging Kamket’s suspension.

In February, Kamket survived impeachment by a hair’s breadth after the assembly fell one vote short of ejecting him from office.

Chasing a 75 per cent threshold of 36 votes for the motion of impeachment to succeed, the 48-member House could only garner 35 votes.

The impeachment motion had been moved by Majority Leader Elijah Toroitich accusing Kamket of abuse of office.

FISHING EXPENDITION

Responding to the vote, Kamket maintained his innocence, saying his tribulations were the handwork of his political detractors.

“It was an illegal attempt to pass a resolution against me and it is a continuation of the illegalities that have been meted against me, but God is great,” said the Speaker.

“The agenda they have tried to advance are actually of no grounds. They have been on a fishing expedition to get anything against me, but my conscience is clear that I have done nothing wrong.”

Baringo Deputy Speaker Douglas Kiplimo, who has been the acting Speaker, told journalists that Kamket, who is facing incitement charges in court, remains the Speaker, pending the hearing and determination of the case.

Kamket lamented that he had never been given a hearing by the county assembly.

“Because they realised I will survive all matters, including the court cases, they wanted to create a short-cut but that has not been successful."

“What they were trying to do is against rules of natural justice — you do not hang a man unheard. I was not given the chance to defend myself and I hope the County Assembly of Baringo should not be turned into a kangaroo court.”

By Maureen Murimi