Court Blocks President Ruto’s East Africa Portland Cement Company MD Appointee from Assuming Office
The High Court has issued a conservatory order stopping the appointment of Bruno Oguda Obodha as the new Managing Director of East Africa Portland Cement Company (EAPCC).
An order issued by Justice Bahati Mwamuye directed the matter to be mentioned on February 12, 2025.
This followed a case filed by one Caroline Wambui Mwangi who sought to stop the appointment of Obodha.
The judge issued the conservatory order on January 3 halting the plans to have Obodha take office.
“Pending the inter partes hearing and determination of the Notice of Motion Application dated 02/01/2025, a conservatory order be and is hereby issued suspending the Press Release (Notification of Presidential Action) dated 20th December 2024 and/or any other instrument, gazette notice, document or authority, designating, nominating or appointing Mr. Bruno Oguda Obodha, the Interested Party herein, as the Managing Director of the 2nd Respondent.”
“Pending the inter partes hearing and determination of the Application dated 02/01/2025, a conservatory order be and is hereby issued restraining the Respondents and/or any other person either by themselves, their agents and/or any other person(s) whatsoever from acting upon, and/or giving effect to the Press Release (Notification of Presidential Action) dated 20th December 2024 and/or gazette notice, document or authority flowing from the same or related to the same designating, nominating or appointing Mr. Bruno Oguda Obodha, the Interested Party herein, as the Managing Director of the 2nd Respondent,” the judge ordered.
Pending the inter partes hearing and determination of the Application, Justice Mwamuye issued a conservatory order restraining Obodha or any other person from assuming the office of Managing Director EAPCC.
The judge allowed the petitioner to serve the respondents and Obodha with the Application, Petition, and Court Order immediately and file an Affidavit of Service in that regard by close of business on January 6.
Wambui argued the process and criteria triggering the nomination of Obodha to the position vide Press Release was completely shrouded in mystery and not accountable to the public as mandated by Article 10 of the Constitution.
“That despite the assertion that the Interested Party’s appointment was made pursuant to the recommendation of the Public Service Commission, there is no iota of evidence pointing to the involvement of the Public Service Commission in the process leading to the said nomination. The assertion that the Public Service Commission was involved in the nomination is unfounded,” she argued.
In the case, Wambui sued the Attorney General, EAPCC and EAPCC board while Obodha is mentioned as the interested party.
