The Director of the Centre for Transparency and Accountability (CETRA) Juma Kiboi has criticized the County Attorney at the Trans Nzoia County Government for allegedly giving poor legal advice that has led to costly fines and the overturning of important decisions in court.
According to Kiboi, the county's legal team has been offering wrong legal advice with the attorney’s actions being blamed for multiple legal setbacks and growing litigation costs.
"The attorney has been misguiding the county government, leading to illegal decisions that have been challenged in court, resukting in huge finacial implications in fines" Kiboi said.
He said one such high-profile case involved the dismissal of County Executive Committee (CEC) members, whose firing was later ruled as illegal by the Labour relations court in Kitale.
After seeking legal redress, the dismissed CEC members were reinstated to their positions,l.
“This situation is not only an embarrassment but a huge financial burden on the county,” Kiboi added. The fines attached to these overturned decisions are something we could have easily avoided if the legal team had done its job properly.”
Kiboi accused the County Attorney of negligence, suggesting that the attorney has failed to protect the county’s interests in critical legal matters.
ÌHe warned that the attorney’s continued mishandling of legal matters could cause even more severe financial and administrative damage.
“The rate of defying court rulings is growing, and this is undermining the integrity of the justice system in the county," Kiboi stated, emphasizing that the county government must take immediate steps to address this legal crisis.
He also expressed concern over what he described as “blatant disrespect for the rule of law.”
Kiboi stressed the importance of adhering to judicial decisions and ensuring that government operations are carried out within the framework of law and justice.
“We will not accept impunity, and those responsible for these illegal actions must be held accountable. It’s imperative that the rule of law is upheld,” Kiboi declared.
Despite the growing legal troubles, there has been no immediate response from the Trans Nzoia County Attorney or government officials regarding Kiboi’s accusations.