Court Lifts Orders Blocking Appointment of 71-Year-Old Francis Muthaura as KRA Chairman by President Uhuru

Former Head of Civil Service Francis Muthaura will now assume office as the chairman of Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) after the court lifted earlier orders stopping his appointment.

Employment and Labour Court's Justice Byrum Ongaya on Thursday lifted the orders he had issued stopping the appointment of Muthura and four others namely; Charles Makori Omanga, Mukesh Shah, Leonard Ithau, and Susan Mudhune to the KRA board.

The suspension came after activist Okiya Omtatah moved to court to challenge their appointment by President Uhuru Kenyatta, on grounds that their nomination through a gazette notice was not competitive. He further argued that some of the appointees are beyond 60 years, the retirement age for public workers.

The judge lifted the suspension after KRA's legal team successfully convinced the court that the order was time barred since it was issued after the directors had assumed office.

In his case, the activist also submitted that the appointment was in breach of the Constitution because it wasn't in writing and lacked the President's signature and presidential seal. 

President Uhuru appointed Muthaura in a special May 23rd gazette notice to serve in the position until October 20th, 2019.  Muthaura, 71, served as the Lapsset Development Authority chairman before his appointment to KRA.