Today's Headlines
- Two Exhibitions Are On At Ramoma, Nairobi
- Country to Review Tourism Law
- Econet Wireless Finally Rolls Out
- Odinga Warns of Civil Unrest
- Mulee Rules Out Harambee Stars U-Turn
- Taking Up a Women's Agenda
- More Than 6,000 Christian Youth Converge for Prayers
- Catholic Church Outraged By MPs' Refusal to Pay Tax
- Pope Benedict Praying for Release of Abducted Nuns
- Thousands Flee Amid Fears of Border Clashes
- Malaria Rates Plummet Among Children
- Winning Against HIV Stigma Behind Bars
- First Congress of Federation of African Journalists a Historic Milestone, Says IFJ
- Archbishop Lele Urges State to Act as Food Crisis Bites
- Regional Workshop Focus Border Management, Irregular Migration
- Silverbird Acquires Kenya's Nu Metro, Starts Operations in Ghana
- Raila is Evil, Says Minister
- Man Charged With Abduction of Two Catholic Sisters
- UN Censures State On Torture
- Agencies Seek $390 Million to Offset Climate And Food Risks
- UN-Backed Scheme Gives 3,000 Prisoners Clean Water and Sanitation
- Samosa Festival is On in Nairobi
- Heartstrings in Another Comedy
- Govts, Investors Engage RVR in Rail Bid
- Mwangi Replaces Mwebesa At NSE
- Riepa Hosts Business Association
- ICTR Petitions UN for Arrest of Kabuga
- UBA to Invest SH360 Billion in Kenya
- Free Movement of People Too, Not Just Goods and Capital
- Judges Running Out of Money?
The Nation (Nairobi)
September 5, 2008
News Article By Dave Opiyo
The controversy at National Social Security Fund took a new twist Thursday, with Prime minister Raila Odinga approving the interdiction of managing trustee Rachael Lumbasyo.
Consequently, Mrs Lumbasyo has been ordered by officials from the ministry of Labour to vacate her office by latest 2pm today.
This comes only a day after the managing trustee declared that she was still in charge at the workers' pension fund - at least for the next three months, after which her contract will end.
Mrs Lumbasyo had on Wednesday asked Labour minister John Munyes to rescind his decision to replace her.
Appointing authority
The PM's decision, said the statement sent by Mr Salim Lone, his spokesman, was made during his Tuesday meeting with the NSSF's board of trustees.
Mr Munyes last week announced that he had sent the managing trustee on 90 days leave pending her retirement, to pave way for investigations into the management of the pension fund.
This decision was challenged by members of the board of trustees, who accused the minister of not following "due process" in the interdiction of Mrs Lumbasyo and the subsequent appointment of Mr Fred Rabongo in an acting capacity.
The board members cited section 33(1) of the NSSF Act, which compels the Labour minister to consult them when making such appointments.
The head of Public Service Francis Muthaura has also written to the Labour minister, disapproving his decision.
But Thursday, Mr Odinga reiterated that the law granted the Labour minister, as the appointing authority, the power to relieve Mrs Lumbasyo of her duties.
"The minister has power under the laws of Kenya - para six of the first schedule of the NSSF Act cap 258 - to relieve the Fund's Managing Trustee of her duties...
"The minister, as empowered by the Law, should also immediately appoint an Interim Managing Trustee from within the organisation," said Mr Odinga.
By this, the Prime Minister also nullified the appointment of Mr Rabongo, a marketing and public relations consultant, as the acting managing trustee.
The NSSF currently manages a Sh90 billion portfolio.
