Court stops renewal of KPLC boss Ben Chumos tenure

Kenya Power Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer Ben Chumo has received a major blow after the Employment and Labour Relations Court issued temporary orders prohibiting the Kenya Power and Lighting Company and the Ministry of Energy from considering renewing his tenure.

This is after activist Okiya Omutata moved to court to block the renewal of his contract over claims that he had attained the government retirement age of 60.

In the petition, Mr Omutata claims that Ben Chumo having been born on 11th July 1956, he ought to have vacated office on 11th July 2016 after attaining the age of 60.

He further states that vide a letter dated 12th June 2016, addressed to the Board of Directors of Kenya Power, Chumo applied for the renewal of his contract, to serve for a further term of three (3) years, with effect from 7th January 2017.

“The petitioner is praying for orders declaring the impugned extension of service to be inconsistent with the Constitution and other laws of Kenya and, therefore, null and void,” he argues.

Omutata argues that the Public Service Commission has no capacity under the law to allow the board to act contrary to the law.

Justice Nelson Abuodha further directed that the application be served on the respondents for an inter-parties hearing on December 3rd this year.