Blow to Joe Sang as court suspends his reappointment as Kenya Pipeline boss

Joe Sang’s return to the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) as the acting Managing Director has been dealt a blow by the High Court.

The Employment and Labour Relations Court, in an order issued by the Deputy Registrar, on Friday suspended Sang’s appointment by KPC until an application filed by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), through its President Eric Theuri, is heard and determined.

The Deputy Registrar also ordered the Kenya Pipeline board to appoint an acting Managing Director from within the parastatal’s current pool of employees holding substantive management positions, pending the hearing and conclusion of the LSK application that is before Judge James Rika.

Sang’s comeback to Kenya Pipeline after a 5-year absence was announced by the board Chairperson Faith Boinnet through a press release.

The LSK president, in his application contesting Sang’s appointment, argued that the board erred since the former Managing Director had resigned in 2018 following corruption allegations and was not part of the company in the last five years.

In the LSK application, also supported by an affidavit sworn by its Chief Executive Officer Florence Muturi, Theuri wants the Employment and Labour Relations Court to find that Sang’s appointment was unprocedural and irregular since there was no evidence of fair competition and merit, as required when filling public offices.

The matter will be mentioned on March 10, 2023.