Former MP Mary Wambui appointment to Employment Authority suspended

The Employment and Labour Relations Court has suspended the appointment of former Othaya MP Mary Wambui to the National Employment Authority.

The order followed a petition filed by the Kenya Young Parliamentarians Association seeking to nullify the former legislator's appointment as chairperson to the Authority.

According to Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja, who sponsored the petition, the appointment violated the spirit and letter of the law he championed to create the employment body while he was a nominated MP.

Former Othaya MP Mary Wambui's appointment to National Employment Authority suspended after petition sponsored by Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja Pulse Live Kenya

In an official statement from his office, Sakaja had outlined the reasons why he believed Ms Wambui was not a perfect fit for the role.

"The recent appointment of Hon. Mary Wambui Munene as chair of this institution goes against the specific provision of Section 2(10) of the NEA Act as well as with the vision for this authority," his statement read in part.

The quoted section requires that the chairperson of the board should be a professional who has worked as a Human Resource Manager for at least seven years.

Former Othaya MP Mary Wambui's appointment to National Employment Authority suspended Pulse Live Kenya

In the court papers, KYPA stated that Ms Wambui is on record admitting that she has a limited educational background.

"That the 3rd respondent (Wambui) has on several occasions personally admitted that she possesses a limited educational background which for all intents and purposes makes her unqualified and unsuitable to conduct the affairs of the chairperson of National Employment Authority in light of the specialist academic and professional requirements that were intended to be possessed by the chairperson of the said authority," the court papers read in part.

I am more qualified than those complaining - Mary Wambui

The former legislator recently responded to naysayers who questioned her appointment stating that she is qualified to take the position.

"I got the post because I am better than those complaining. I have the qualifications and experience to run the office," she stated.