Isiolo: Win for Abdullahi Banticha as Court Extends Orders Blocking His Removal as Speaker
- On Thursday, July 17, parties fighting over the Isiolo County Assembly speaker's position appeared before Employment and Labour Relations Court Judge Hellen Wasilwa
- After hearing the applications, Justice Wasilwa issued orders that favoured Abdullahi Jaldesa Banticha
- There have been wrangles over the assembly's leadership since the attempts to impeach Governor Abdi Guyo
Amos Khaemba, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over four years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Nairobi - Recently gazetted Isiolo County Assembly Speaker, Abdullahi Jaldesa Banticha, has received a major boost in the fight to keep his position.
Source: Facebook
On Thursday, July 17, the Employment and Labour Relations Court extended orders stopping the removal of Banticha as the speaker pending the hearing and determination of the case he filed.
Which orders did Justice Hellen Wasilwa isssue?
In her ruling seen by TUKO.co.ke, Justice Hellen Wasilwa extended her orders until September 22, when the case will be mentioned.
“The interim orders are extended,” Justice Wasilwa ordered.
The judge allowed an interested party to be enjoined to the proceedings, and the preliminary objection and application to be canvassed first.
Further, she directed the respondents to file their responses to the preliminary objection and the applicants to file their further affidavits in 14 days.
"The preliminary objection and application be canvassed first. The respondents are to file their responses to the preliminary objection and application within 14 days. The applicant is to file further affidavit and submissions in 14 days, and the respondents in 14 days," she ordered.
Justice Wasilwa warned against any attempts to disobey her order, saying such a move would attract penal consequences.
"Take notice that any disobedience or non-observance of the order of the court served herewith will result in penal consequences to you and any other person(s) disobeying and not observing the same," the judge warned.
Wasilwa's latest ruling comes amid deepening political infighting and a power struggle that has crippled operations within the devolved unit.
Why did Banticha move to the court?
Earlier, Justice Wasilwa barred the Government Printer from degazetting Banticha as the speaker of Isiolo County Assembly.
Isiolo County Assembly Clerk Salad Guracha had on Monday, July 14, revoked the election of Banticha as the speaker.
Banticha was recently appointed as the new speaker, succeeding Mohamed Roba, who had overseen the contentious and ultimately failed impeachment motion against Governor Abdi Guyo.
During the Senate hearing, senators discovered the Isiolo County Assembly was operating with two speakers at the time Guyo's impeachment motion was allegedly passed.
Source: Facebook
Has Abdi Guyo reconciled with MCAs?
Meanwhile, Governor Guyo launched efforts to reconcile with MCAs who impeached him over alleged abuse of office.
On Saturday, July 12, Guyo held a meeting with seven out of 16 ward representatives who backed his impeachment motion.
The embattled governor told TUKO.co.ke that the meeting was the beginning of reconciliation efforts aimed at resolving issues impeding development in the county.
Some of the MCAs that Guyo met are allied to embattled speaker Roba, who was once a close ally of the governor.
Proofreading by Jackson Otukho, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
