Economy

Suspended standards boss seeks jail term for Trade CS

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Suspended chairman of the National Standards Council (NSC) Bernard Ngore. FILE PHOTO | NMG

Suspended chairman of the National Standards Council (NSC) Bernard Ngore wants Industrialisation secretary Betty Maina jailed for blocking his return to work.

In an application certified as urgent, Mr Ngore said the CS and permanent secretary Francis Owino have continued to frustrate him from resuming his duties, after the judge suspended the revocation of his appointment in December.

Mr Ngore said he obtained a court order suspending the revocation of his appointment by Ms Maina but despite serving them with the order, he has not been allowed to discharge his duties as the chairman of the board.

He said the board has held several meetings without him yet the NSC is not supposed to transact any business in his absence. He said any meeting to set standards or approve the annual budget of the bureau or even perform the council’s functions under Section 7 and 8 of the Standards Act, without legally and properly constituted NSC is invalid.

Mr Ngore said that the CS through Dr Owino (PS) sent a letter to the managing director Kenya Bureau of Standards indicating the need to have a board meeting.

The board meeting was called on January 1 and held on January 14, and the invite was sent through email, but he was left out. He however, got the link but was denied participation.

“The contemnors have been issuing illegal circulars stopping me from discharging my functions, I am yet to attend any board meeting nor perform my duties,” he said in an affidavit.

He wants the duo summoned to court and to explain why they should not be jailed for disobeying a court order.

In the main case, Mr Ngore accused the CS of violating the law by illegally degazzetting him as the chairman of the NSC, without a notice or affording him an opportunity to be heard or giving him reasons for the decision.

Through lawyer Titus Koceyo, Mr Ngore said the revocation of his job has left the council without a substantive chairman and fears that the decision is meant to facilitate another case filed by a former chairman, through a proxy to be declared the boss.