Lawyer Donald Kipkorir has criticised the manner in which Central Rift Valley Water Works Development Agency CEO Samuel Oruma was on Tuesday sent on compulsory leave.
Oruma's forceful temporal removal from office followed an advisory by Head of Public Service Felix Koskei on September 22, pending investigations into alleged procurement irregularities at the water agency.
Koskei also recommended to the board of Athi Water Works Development Agency to suspend its CEO Michael Thuita pending a probe into alleged procurement irregularities in the award of tender in the construction of Ruiru II, Karimenu, and Kitui Matuu water projects.
Thuita preferred to resign on Saturday and on Tuesday, the Central Rift Valley Water Works Development Agency Board sent Oruma on compulsory leave.
Police officers were called in to effect the order after Oruma allegedly drew a gun at the board members, claims that Oruma has since denied.
Lawyer Kipkorir found fault in the use of police to effect the board's directive.
"When UDA campaigned last year, it promised civil servants won’t be humiliated ever. Why have Michael Thuita, Athi Works CEO and Central Rift Valley CEO Samuel Oruma been kicked out like terrorists? he posed.
"How can police be used to enforce compulsory leave? Police enforce Court Orders only," he said via a statement on X.
Oruma resisted leaving insisting that he was still legally in office since he had not committed any corrupt act.
"I don't have a problem, wacha investigation ifanyike but I need protection from the government," he said as police officers asked him to leave.
When asked by journalists about the alleged gun drama, Oruma denied drawing a gun.
"No, no, no, hakuna hiyo. Ni mtu amenigonga, amenigonga sana but anyway," he said.
Oruma is accused of alleged procurement irregularities in the implementation of the Water Supply and Sanitation System for Bomet/Longisa/Mulot towns within the jurisdiction of the Central Rift Valley Water Works Development Agency.
The projects were worth Sh1.7 billion.
In his letter to the agency's board advising Oruma's suspension, Koskei said his continued stay in office was "undermining the government's war against corruption" given "the gravity of allegations and the quantum of resources under inquiry."
Water Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome whose ministry Koskei also accused of undermining the war on graft for failing to suspend Thuita absolved herself from blame.
"I have not in any way failed to cooperate with the EACC as alleged by mainstream media reports and the exercise of my discretion not to suspend Eng Thuita until the requested information is availed to me did not in any way prejudice investigations," she said in a statement on Saturday moments after Thuita bowed out of office.
