Angela Ndambuki takes fight for her KNCCI job to court

Former Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) CEO Angela Ndambuki has moved to court seeking to be reinstated as the trade organisation’s boss.

A preliminary ruling by the Employment and Labour Relations court appears to have given the ex-CEO some reprieve by temporarily stopping the board from replacing her.

Justice Lady Hellen Wasilwa of the Employment and Labour Relations Court issued the orders on 27th July after embattled CEO moved to court seeking to stop any substantive appointment in her position.

She also ordered the chamber to pay her salary and set hearing of the case on 3rd July to give KNCCI time to respond to the application.

Through lawyer Wambua Kilonzo, Ms Ndambuki asked the court to bar Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry from discussing or making any decision on her purported termination.

She urged the court to maintain the status quo to allow her to continue serving as the Board CEO and discharge her duties as per the Employment Agreement between the two parties.

“The Court should be pleased to issue conservatory orders maintaining the status quo by allowing the applicant to continue in her position as the executive officer of the respondent and to discharge her duties under Employment Agreement between applicant and respondent dated 1 October, 2017,” said Ms Ndambuki

She also wants the board be barred from making any substantive appointment or conducting any recruitment to fill the position of CEO. She argues that on 22nd of May this year, Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry purported to have terminated her employment as the Board CEO.

In a letter dated 22 of May 2018, Mr Kiprono Kittony, the National Chairman of the board sacked Ms Ndambuki as the CEO of KNCCI, saying the board opted not to extend Ndambuki’s contract after probation, even though she worked two months beyond. Mr Kittony did not disclose the specifics of Ms Ndambuki’s departure.

“There is no decision or resolution of the respondent’s Board of Directors sanctioning the termination and respondent disregarded laid down procedure under respondent’s Human Resource Policy and Procedure Manual,” court papers state.

Her lawyer argues that since her probation of six months had not been extended, Ms Ndambuki’s employment stood constructively confirmed as at 1st April. Ms Ndambuki was hired on 1st October 2017 for a term of three years, subject to a probation of six months.

She further claimed that after the alleged termination of her employment, KNCCI has appointed George Kiondo in acting capacity to replace her.

The former songstress was a member of Tatuu alongside Angela Mwandanda alias Shinde, and Debbie Asila, Shaffie Weru’s ex-wife.

She holds a Masters of Law Degree in Intellectual Property Law from University of Edinburg (England) and a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Nairobi.

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The advocate of the High Court has previously worked as the CEO of Performers Rights Society of Kenya (PRISK) and was named among top 100 reputable African by Reputational Poll International in April.