Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu has been sued by his one-time political ally and County Executive Committee member after he dismissed him last week.
Mugwe moved to court to sue governor Waititu and Kiambu County government, listed by the court as first and second respondents respectively. Court documents seen by Jamhuri News also lists Kiambu county speaker Mr.Stephen Ndichu, the clerk Mr. John Mutie, and the county assembly as interested parties.
The case was filed under a certificate of urgency on May 11th at the Labour and Employment Relations Court in Milimani challenging Mugwe’s dismissal and was heard on May 16th.
John Mugwe held the Roads, Transport and Public Works docket before he was moved to Water, Environment, and Natural Resources in unclear circumstances days before his dismissal.
The governor, in the dismissal letter, cited that Mugwe lacked the capacity to deliver and was not a team player; despite Mugwe being praised countywide for his upbeat performance in his Roads docket.
Before his dismissal, Mugwe had been sent on a 30 working days suspension. Upon its relapse, he was sacked.
On Wednesday’s hearing, Justice Hellen Wasilwa ordered the entire process of recruiting a new CEC to be stopped pending the hearing and determination of the case.
The court also granted Mr. Mugwe a leave to file proceedings compelling Governor Waititu and Kiambu County government ”to restore and/or reinstate him to his position as county executive committee member”.
The respondents and interested parties were given seven days to file a reply.
Waititu had nominated ex-Ngewa MCA Karungo wa Thang’wa to take up the position.
Mugwe was one of the candidates vying for Kimabu governorship last year before Waititu joined hands with him and Dr. James Nyoro, David Ngare, and Acquiline Njoki to form the formidable team, United For Kiambu that ousted former governor, William Kabogo.
Waititu had earlier expressed his displeasure with Mugwe’s strong social media presence that has attracted a huge following.
At a gathering after dismissing Mr. Mugwe, Waititu was heard saying that by dismissing Mugwe and other allies within the coalition that nominated him, he was positioning himself to keep them from ousting him in 2022.
”When we came together, we had one goal, and that was to oust Kabogo. Now, all these people around me will be taming me in 2022 when the time comes. When you see me doing this, I’m strategizing on how I will fight that battle”. Said Waititu on April 15 in Kikuyu.
Mugwe has been touted to be one of Kiambu’s most hardworking CEC under Waititu’s administration.