Court reinstates suspended CEO of Bomas of Kenya

18:04:2024: Employment and Labour Relations Court has reinstated the Chief Executive Officer of Bomas of Kenya, Peter Gitaa Koria, who had been on a 12-month suspension pending conclusion of investigations into procurement irregularities in supplies for the institution.

Mr. Koria is among six senior officers whose suspension Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service, Mr. Felix Kosgei ordered, on the recommendation of EACC, on 16th November 2023 for alleged involvement in corruption and procurement irregularities within their respective institutions.

Justice Mathews Nderi Nduma of the Employment and Labour Relations Court has granted Mr Koria mandatory injunction directing the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Gender, Culture, Arts and Heritage and Chairperson, Board of Bomas of Kenya to unconditionally lift his suspension from employment and immediately reinstate him, pending the hearing and determination of his petition.

This comes hot on the heals of the reinstatement by the Courts a week ago, in similar circumstances, of Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Ltd (KETRAC) General Manager for Design and Construction, Eng. Anthony Tawayi Wamukota.

Mr. Wamukota’s reinstatement raised fear that it would open the floodgates for similar rulings, which would defeat the war on corruption. True to it, a second reinstatement has followed in a span of a week.

The anti-corruption legal regime favours suspension from public office of suspects of corruption, more so in higher offices so as to safeguard the integrity of investigations.