Raila criticises sackings over airport fire

By Philip Mwakio

NAIROBI, KENYA: Former Prime minister Raila Odinga on Friday claimed that Kenya Airport Authority MD Stephen Gichuki  and other airport managers have been unfairly sacked or suspended over the recent fire at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport JKIA.

Raila told a lawyers' conference in Mombasa that Gichuki’s suspension before investigation of the fire tragedy has been completed is emblematic of theJubilee government’s  alleged mistreatment of civil servants and disregard of due process.

He said that ministers in the Jubilee government have harassed civil servants or sacked them without fear  because they “are not accountable to parliament” any more following the promulgation of the 2010 constitution.

“People are being sacked even before investigation of the fire tragedy at JKIA is done,” he said and added that Gichuki has been hounded out of office with a “ year to his retirement” for no reason.

According to Raila Gichuki’s removal is as unjust as Mining Secretary Najib Balala’s cancellation of mining licences  of 43 firms.

He said Balala recalled the licence without fear because “he cannot be called to parliament to explain why he did that” adding that the Labour Secretary  Kazungu Kambu  removed the Managing Trustee of the National Social Security Fund NSSF from office illegally saying that the pension fund does  not fall under the ambit of the secretary’s powers when it comes to sacking.