Four former Vihiga County executives have suffered a significant legal setback after the court dismissed their attempt to be reinstated to office, marking a major win for the county administration in an ongoing governance dispute. The executives, who were dismissed earlier this year over allegations of misconduct, administrative lapses, and failure to deliver on key departmental mandates, had moved to court seeking temporary relief as their main case continues. However, the judge ruled that the officials failed to demonstrate why the court should intervene before the substantive suit is heard.
The dispute stems from a decision by Governor Wilber Ottichilo’s administration to restructure the county executive following what insiders described as repeated internal conflicts and stalled departmental performance. According to the county, the affected executives were implicated in poor oversight, delays in project implementation, and breakdowns in coordination between county ministries. Their dismissal triggered controversy within Vihiga’s political circles, with critics accusing the administration of sidelining certain officials for political reasons. The four moved to court shortly after, arguing that they were removed without due process and that the decision violated their employment rights.
In its ruling, the court held that the applicants did not provide sufficient evidence to show that their removal was unlawful or that they faced irreparable harm if not reinstated immediately. The judge noted that reinstatement is an exceptional remedy reserved for clear cases of procedural injustice—conditions that the petitioners had not proven at this stage. The ruling was welcomed by county officials, who said it would allow the administration to continue its reorganization efforts without legal obstruction. However, supporters of the dismissed executives expressed disappointment, arguing that the decision might embolden arbitrary dismissals in county governments.
With the interim application rejected, the case now moves to the next phase as the court prepares to hear the main petition. Legal analysts say the outcome could have wide implications for employment practices within devolved units, particularly regarding how governors handle disciplinary processes involving top county officials. For now, the four former executives remain out of office as they prepare to challenge their dismissal in the full hearing—a process that is expected to shape ongoing debates about accountability, governance, and leadership stability in Vihiga County.