Court stops EPRA move to hand Oimeke another term

Employment and Labout Relations Court yesterday issued conservatory orders stopping the re-appointment of Robert Pavel Oimeke as Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) director general for a further three years pending the hearing of a petition filed in court.

Justice Hellen Wasilwa issued the orders after the petitioner, Emmanuel Wanjala Wamalwa, through lawyer Henry Kurauka challenged the re-appointment of Oimeke in court over corruption related allegations.

“That a conservatory order is hereby granted restraining the Board of Directors, Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Public service Commission and the CS of Energy and Petroleum and Mining from deliberating, renewing and or extending the contract of employment of Oimeke as the director general of the energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority pending the hearing and determination of this petition,” ordered Wasilwa.

Granted orders

The judge also granted the Board of directors Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Public Service Commission and both the CSs of Energy Charles Keter and Petroleum and Mining John Munyes seven more days to file their responses in the case before the hearing on October 1.

Documents filed in court by Wanjala also want the court to compel the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to immediately commence investigations against Oimeke in a bid to establish corruption related activities involving and or perpetrated by him in cause of his employment since 2017 when he was appointed.

This orders comes after Keter on July 27 handed Oimeke a further three years at the helm of the authority.