Kisumu Employment and Labor Relations Court has issued orders stopping the newly appointed Chemelil sugar factory Managing Director(MD) Moses Kiprop from taking over the office after a farmer moved to court to challenge his appointment.

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Muthika Linturi recently appointed Kiprop in a special gazette notice.

A sugarcane farmer within Nyando Sufarbelt, Michael Sidigu, filed a petition before Justice Stephen Radido, citing that the appointment was contrary to the law.

Sidigu says his appointment has gone against labor laws and Chemelil factory human resources guidelines, indicating that the suitable candidate is below 56 years old, yet Kiproo is 58.

The plaintiff contended in the petition that no legal provision requires the Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service to produce a concurrence letter for such an appointment.

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On January 23, 2024, Justice Radido ruled that the case would be tried before him.

At the state-owned mill, Jacqueline Kotonya had been the acting MD until she was supposed to pass over to the next substantive MD.

The Attorney General, the Chemelil Sugar Factory, the Board Chairman, the Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi, and the Public Service Commission are also listed as respondents in the lawsuit.