Bomet Women Representative Linet Chepkorir alias Toto has been sued over alleged nepotism for hiring her immediate family members at her office.
In a case filed at the Employment and Labour Relations Court by Collins Barno and Stanley Kiprotich Bii, Toto is said to have handpicked six of her close family relatives to work in her office with a Ksh612,000 cumulatively monthly salary out of the Ksh811,000 the total amount paid to all the staff in her office.
The petitioners claim the MP failed to adhere to 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 state.
Also listed as interested parties in the suit are the six relatives of Toto namely 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.
According to the petitioners, the action of the Woman Representative of employing of her relatives in a public office is not only an act of nepotism but also prejudicial to the adherence to the rule of law in the running of the public office. The MP is also being faulted for being unable to ensure that there was inclusivity and equality in the process.
Justice James Rika transferred the petition to the Employment and Labour Relations Court in Eldoret stating that there was no reason for the case to be filed and heard at Nairobi.
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