Bomet Women Representative Linet Chepkorir popularly identified as Linet Toto has been sued over nepotism after it was alleged that a majority of employees in her office are her immediate family members and relatives.
Two Bomet residents filed a case at the Employment and Labour Relations Court in Niarobi, against the first time political office holder , indicating that she employed six of her close family relatives who took up to a cumulatively monthly salary of Ksh612,000 out of the Ksh811,000 supposed to be paid to all the staff employed in her office. The two petitioners identified as Collins Barno and Stanley Kiprotich Bii claimed that Linet failed to take heed to the minimum requirements of transparency, fair competition, merit and integrity.
“While appointing the six persons Chepkorir totally ignored the gender principle which is a requirement in public appointments as the dictates of the constitution since there are only three women out of fifteen staff she has employed in her office,” the court papers read.
The two who claimed that they were waiting to apply for the jobs once advertised but were later surprised that Chepkorir had handpicked family members and relatives, tamed the act saying that it will lead to an improper and unlawful pattern in public office appointments.
“Unless the said appointments are quashed by an order of the court it will set a bad precedent in the country, where public institutions and appointments will be made unlawfully and irregularly on the basis of partisan consideration instead of strict compliance with the legal requirements,” the two stated.
The alleged individuals listed as interested parties in the suit are Bett Kipkirui (county manager office of women representative), Dominic Mutai (deputy manager), Sheila Chep’ngeno (county coordinator), Josephat Kiplangat (field officer), Pius Kiplangat (communications officer), Emmanuel Kipkorir (media personnel.
The petitioners now want the court to declare the appointment of the six family members of Chepkorir to the office of Bomet county Women Representative as null and void, wanting a fresh reappointment.
“We urged the court to issue an order directing the Chepkorir and Parliament Service Commission to recruit their support staff afresh following the guidelines issued by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission and strictly in accordance with the law,” the petitioners seek.