Kenya Reinsurance Corporation's Group Managing Director Dr. Hillary Wachinga and Finance General Manager Ruth Ngugi have refuted accusations of poor governance, harassment, and financial impropriety raised in a petition seeking their removal.
In legal documents filed through their lawyer Peter Wanyama, the executives argued that the petitioner, Brian Ochieng, bypassed established dispute resolution frameworks before approaching the courts.
Key Allegations and Responses
- Unilateral changes to recruitment email: Claims that the executives changed the corporation's recruitment email to one accessible only by Dr. Wachinga were denied.
- Financial impropriety: Allegations involving a Ksh 52 million loan and unauthorized training payments were said to fall under the jurisdiction of the State Corporations Advisory Committee and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission.
- Procurement irregularities: Dr. Wachinga pointed to the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, 2015, emphasizing that complaints should be addressed first to the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority.
- Tender disputes: The contested Tender No. KRC/2023/2179/360 had already been adjudicated by the High Court and the Public Procurement Administrative Review Board, with no legal provision for further review outside set timelines.
- Use of corporation funds for personal fines: The matter is currently under appeal in the Court of Appeal after a High Court ruling.
- Claims of intimidation and micromanagement: The executives stressed that grievances should be directed to the Commission on Administrative Justice as per legal requirements.
Current Court Status
The petition was mentioned before Justice Patricia Nyaundi, who issued a temporary injunction preventing Kenya Re and the two executives from conducting recruitment activities for advertised positions until the case is resolved.
