Court Reinstates Suspended IEBC CEO Ezra Chiloba to Office

The Employment and Labour relations court  has allowed suspended Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chief Executive Officer Ezra Chiloba to resume office.

In a ruling, Justice Stephen Radido allowed Chiloba, who was sent on a compulsory leave in April by IEBC chairperson Wafula Chebukati, to resume his duties pending hearing and determination of a case filed before the court.

Chiloba moved to the court to challenge the decision by Chebukati to send him on a 3-month compulsory leave to pave way for investigation into alleged irregularities in IEBC's procurement department.

In his ruling on Thursday, the judge said IEBC didn't adhere to the law in sending the Chief Executive on compulsory leave.

“In view of the court, it would not be proportionate and in public interest to uphold a decision taken without legal or contractual foundation by an employer,” ruled judge Radido.

In his petition, Chiloba argues that the move to send him home was “wrong, unconstitutional, malicious and did not follow any lawful procedure.”

The decision to send Chiloba home sharply split the commission with some of the commissioners reported to have walked out of the meeting called to determine the CEO's fate.

This was followed by resignation of three commissioners led by Vice chair Consolata Nkatha, Margaret Mwachanya and Paul Kurgat. The three cited lack of faith in Chebukati as the reason for their resignation.