The Employment and Labour Relations Court yesterday suspended the appointment of former Othaya MP Mary Wambui as the National Employment Authority chairperson.

Justice Hellen Wasilwa issued orders barring Wambui from assuming office until a petition filed by the Kenya Young Parliamentarians Association (KYPA) is determined.

The association is challenging her appointment, arguing that she is not qualified the post under the law, policy and best practice.

“Wambui has on several occasions personally admitted that she possesses a limited educational background which for all intents and purposes makes her unqualified and unsuitable to conduct the affairs of the chairperson of National Employment Authority in light of the specialist academic and professional requirements that were intended to be possessed by the chairperson of the said authority,” reads the KYPA’s petition in parts.

Seven-year experience

The association claims the former MP does not meet the requirements set by Section 10(2) of the National Employment Authority Act which stipulates that “the chairperson of the authority should have at least seven years experience in human resource management or its equivalent”.

“That impending catastrophe of the impugned Gazette Notice can only be arrested by declaring it unconstitutional,” it says of Wambui appointment.

The petitioners, through Mwenje & Karanja Co. Advocates, further argue that the authority assigned to a State officer is public trust and should be exercised in a manner that is constitutional.

KYPA chairperson, Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja, had instructed the lawyers to lodge a legal complaint against Wambui’s appointment. The matter will be heard on November 14.

Wambui’s appointment sparked public outrage as Kenyans accused the government of reclying retirees in State jobs.

Sakaja said the former MP is not suited to be the authority’s vision carrier and urged her to turn down the offer.

 “I have confidence that she has the ability to serve Kenyans in a different capacity, but not as the vision carrier and chairperson of the NEA,” said the senator.

Kenyans  dissatisfaction

In a gazzette notice dated October 14, Labour Cabinet secretary Ukur Yatani appointed Wambui to the position.

“The Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection appoints Mary Wambui Munene to be the Chairperson of the National Employment Authority, for a period of three years, with effect from the 14th October 2019,” the notice read.

Kenyans took to social media and accused the government of negleting the youth and giving State jobs to retirees.