Public Service Commission CEO Simon Rotich has ordered that former Maasai Mara Vice Chancellor Mary Walingo be reinstated pending the outcome of an anti-corruption investigation.
Mary Walingo was suspended in 2019 after being linked in a Ksh.177 million corruption scam dubbed the “Mara Heist” in a Citizen TV exposé.
“The appellant be reinstated back to her employment on suspension pending the hearing and determination of the Anti-Corruption Case and until her contract is lawfully terminated,” Rotich said in a statement.
In addition, Rotich ordered Walingo to receive half of her salary and benefits as of the date of her suspension.
She was indicted alongside four other university executives for illegally withdrawing money dating back to 2016. She was ordered to step aside while the probe was underway.
EACC Sues Homabay County Officials Over Ksh36M Fraud
Walingo filed a court petition in May 2022 to challenge the university council’s decision to terminate her employment. In the same month, she appealed the university council’s termination of her to the PSC. After requesting close to Ksh7.5 million in damages and compensation for what she felt was illegal, she ultimately abandoned the complaint.
Prof. Kitche Magak was appointed to take over when she resigned before Joseph Chacha succeeded him in January 2022.
The PSC considered several factors, including whether the institution’s council had the authority to remove her from office and whether it had done so by the law.
Email your news TIPS to editor@thesharpdaily.com
