Nyeri Deputy Governor Caroline Wanjiru Karugu has sued Governor Mutahi Kahiga and the County Secretary for withholding salary and benefits.
Karugu claims that she has not received her salary since the Governor has unfairly blocked her from receiving her salary through the county secretary’s office
Through lawyer Harrison Kinyanjui, the Nyeri Deputy Governor claims that she was shocked and dismayed that the county secretary acting at the behest and directions of Governor Kahiga totally failed to allocate any fuel allowance to her office since June 2019.
“By reason of which I am compelled to use my own resources to fuel my official car allocated to me as Nyeri Deputy Governor,” she claims in court documents.
Karugu contends that the order is drastic as it bars and shuts her from living with dignity as a human being and meeting her basic day-to-day needs.
She also contends that she has not received her phone and entertainment allowance since 2018.
The Deputy Governor also claims she has been irrationally, unjustly and without lawful cause been hindered from accessing her office since November 2019 and that no cabinet meeting invites have ever been sent to her since April 2019.
She claims the acts are unfairly directed to her with the sole aim of whittling down her efficiency in executing her constitutional mandate as the Nyeri Deputy Governor.
“The deliberately sidelining while I remain the Nyeri County Deputy Governor constitutes a violation of the principle of Good Governance,” she claims.
Karugu claims her Personal Assistant was unceremoniously stopped from executing his duties to her and his contract was not renewed by the County Secretary since 2019 at the behest of the Governor.
She also claims that her secretary was also moved out of the office and no replacement was made to her.
The Deputy Governor argues that she was relieved from her duties in a manner that was unlawful and in violation of her constitutional rights.
Employment and Labour Relations Court judge Nderi Nduma certified the matter urgent and directed the application to be served to the parties and be mentioned on September 16.
