The Employment and Labour Relations Court has declined to stop the swearing-in of the Hustler Fund Oversight Board members.
Three appellants, Fred Ogolla, Bernard Odero Okello and Kevin Macharia filed a case in court saying that the appointment of the board members is illegal, adding that there was no public participation.
President William Ruto, through a gazette notice dated January 20, 2023, appointed Irene Karimi as the Chairperson of the newly established Financial Inclusion Fund, popularly known as the Hustler Fund, for a period of three years.
The petitioners argued that the appointment of the board members was done without open interviews and vetting to examine suitability and skills.
They argue that the president and Cooperatives and MSME Development Cabinet Secretary Simon Chelugui discriminated persons with disability by not appointing any of them to the board.
They further argue that there is an imminent danger if the interested parties-board members will assume office illegally hence rendering this petition an academic exercise.
“The respondents violated the constitution by conducting the process of appointment in a clandestine manner catching everyone on surprise by only announcing appointment without precedent process,” reads court papers.
By Rodgers Oduor
