Miguna offers to quit Raila’s office

By PAMELA CHEPKEMEI pjepkemei@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Thursday, September 22  2011 at  22:30

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Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s adviser on coalition matters, Mr Miguna Miguna — who is on suspension — has offered to resign, court documents say.

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Mr Miguna also wants the dispute settled out of court, but negotiations have not started.

He was suspended on August 4 for gross misconduct. (READ: Raila kicks out key aide)

He moved to court to quash the decision and to compel the Prime Minister’s office to pay his salary and benefits that were stopped.

On Thursday, he asked the court to set a date to hear the case as negotiations continue.

His lawyer, Mr Nelson Havi, and the Deputy Solicitor General Muthoni Kimani could not agree whether the case should be mentioned on October 21.

Ms Kimani, acting for Dr Mohammed Isahakia, the permanent secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister, told the court that Mr Miguna wrote to the AG on September 14 seeking the matter to be settled out of court.

She said Mr Miguna retracted the offer after she proposed that the case be deferred for a month to enable her get instructions from Dr Isahakia.

‘’This is a matter where parties should see whether it is possible to pursue alternative dispute resolution mechanisms,” said Ms Kimani.

But Mr Havi said the AG’s office had taken a hardline stand on the dispute. He said Mr Miguna was frustrated because he is not getting any salary.

Mr Miguna gave nine conditions for resigning voluntarily. He wants his suspension rescinded and allegations levelled against him withdrawn in writing.

The PM’s office, he says, should write him a letter of recommendation for future employment upon resignation.

Mr Miguna further sought all his benefits, including allowances between March 2009 and July 2011 on the same scale as President Kibaki’s adviser, Prof Kivutha Kibwana.

Miguna has another case pending in the Industrial Court accusing the Attorney General of paying him a lower salary than Prof Kibwana’s.

He is also seeking damages for the inconvenience and embarrassment caused to him and the details of the settlement announced publicly in the print and electronic media by the AG when the deal is sealed.