Energy regulator EPRA reinstates embattled boss Pavel Oimeke

 

The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) board has reinstated its embattled director-general Pavel Oimeke after a court cleared him for reappointment.

EPRA board chairman retired Supreme Court Judge Jackton Ojwang’ said on Friday that Mr Oimeke was now free to return to the energy regulator.

The High Court had earlier this week overturned an order blocking the renewal of his term.

“His reinstatement follows a court order issued by the Employment and Labour Relations Court in Nairobi on October 6, 2020. Mr Oimeke had stepped aside in August 2020 pending the hearing and determination of a court case contesting his appointment as director-general,” Mr Ojwang’ said in a statement.

Mr Oimeke, whose three-year tenure ended on August 1, was eligible for a second term, but Mr Emmanuel Wanjala rushed to court arguing that the renewal should not be automatic due to allegations of corruption, losses and abuse of office.

The board asked him to step aside on August 17 pending conclusion of the case and appointed Ms Mueni Mutung’a, the firm’s Corporation Secretary /Director of Legal Affairs, as the director-general in an acting capacity.

ALSO READ

• 

  EPRA boss Oimeke cites Uhuru’s backing in contract freeze row

• 

  Court blocks renewal of EPRA boss tenure

• 

  Keter suffers blow in bid to pick energy regulator boss

• 

  Board freezes Oimeke’s term renewal at energy regulator

Justice Hellen Wasilwa, who cleared him, had earlier given orders temporarily stopping the EPRA board and the ministry of Energy and that of Petroleum and Mining from deliberating the renewal of Mr Oimeke’s tenure.

The court found no merits in the allegations raised by Mr Wanjala.

Mr Oimeke was a former director for renewable energy at ERC before he was appointed to the current position after serving in an acting capacity for a few months. He took over from Joseph Ng’ang’a in 2017, after the latter attained the retirement age of 60.

He previously worked at Finlays Kenya Limited and Kenya Tea Development Agency in research and development of renewable energy and energy efficiency solutions for the manufacturing and tea sectors in the country.

He has also served as a consultant for the World Bank-funded multi-agency programme, Lake Victoria Environment Programme implemented in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.