Temporarily, Ferdinand Waititu Babayao cannot serve on the Nairobi Rivers Commission or in any other public position due to a stay issued by the High Court. The orders were granted by Justice Hedwig Ong’ udi in response to a petition filed by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) challenging his appointment on the grounds that Mr. Waititu was unable to hold public office due to his impeachment.
Pending the hearing and resolution of the petition, the judge issued a ” conservatory order” delaying the appointment of the 1st respondent as commissioner of the 4th respondent and or any other appointment to any other state or public office.
On December 2nd, Mr. Waititu was appointed by President William Ruto to the panel. After losing in court, the former governor was impeached in January 2020. Abuse of office, conflict of interest, and dealing in suspicious property are among the graft charges he is facing at the moment.
The LSK claims that the law prohibits a person from ever again serving in public office after being impeached by political means. In his opinion, Mr. Waititu will likely be sworn in before the case is resolved, as stated by Justice Ong’ udi.
” It is in the interest and profit of the 1st respondent that the status quo prevailing remains pending the conclusion of this case, ” the judge said. She said that the impact of appointing Mr. Waititu to a public office, as well as the interpretation of Chapter Six of the Constitution and the Leadership and Integrity Act, are at the heart of the matter.
There is no doubt that we have witnessed different people with cases of corruption today being appointed to take charge of different government facilities and companies in President William Ruto’s regime.
