- The High Court has suspended the vetting and approval of TSC nominees Wilson Sossion and Antonina Lentoijoni pending a constitutional petition against their appointment.
- The conservatory orders followed an urgent application by petitioner Kelvin Wafula against the State Law Office and TSC, and will remain in force for 21 days, backed by a penal notice warning of contempt for non-compliance.
The High Court in Kerugoya has suspended the vetting and approval of two of President William Ruto’s nominees to the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), dealing a blow to the recent appointments.
In conservatory orders issued by Justice Joyce Gandani, the court barred the Commission, its committees, officers and agents from taking any further steps to consider, vet or approve the nominations of former Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Secretary General Wilson Sossion and Antonina Lentoijoni, pending the hearing of a constitutional petition contesting their appointment.
“A Conservatory order is hereby issued restraining the 2nd respondent, whether by itself, its Committees, officers, servants or agents, from considering, vetting or approving the nomination of the 5th and 6th respondents as Commissioners of the Teachers Service Commission pursuant to Notification of Presidential Action No XI of 2026 pending the hearing and determination of this application,” the court order states.
The suspension was granted after petitioner Kelvin Wafula moved to court through an urgent application against the State Law Office, the TSC and other respondents, challenging the legality of the nomination process. Justice Gandani certified the application as urgent, clearing the way for the immediate interim relief.
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Sossion and Lentoijoni were nominated to fill vacancies at the TSC through Notification of Presidential Action No. XI of 2026, issued by Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei on behalf of President Ruto.
The conservatory orders will remain in effect for 21 days, during which the Commission is barred from proceeding with any vetting or approval process involving the two nominees.
The court further issued a penal notice cautioning that any individual who defies the orders risks being cited for contempt of court.
“Take notice that any disobedience or non-observance of the order of the court served herewith will result in penal consequences to you and any other person(s) disobeying and not observing the same,” Justice Gandani warned.
The matter has been scheduled for an inter partes hearing on August 18, when all parties are expected to appear before the court to argue the application in full.
By Masaki Enock
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