Eldoret City Manager Tito Koiyet has been locked out of his office for over two months in a protracted leadership dispute that has disrupted operations at the city’s administrative headquarters. Koiyet, who had been on leave, returned recently only to find the locks to his office changed without notice.
Attempts to access the office, located at Eldoret West Social Hall, using his old keys were unsuccessful. Visibly frustrated, Koiyet staged a protest outside the premises, declaring the move as a blatant act of contempt against a court order that had maintained the status quo in his position pending the determination of a petition he filed.
“What has happened today is further contempt of court, which ordered that I remain in office pending hearing of my case,” Koiyet said. The Employment and Labour Relations Court in Eldoret had issued the directive in an ongoing case where Koiyet is challenging what he terms as unlawful efforts to oust him from his role.
Koiyet’s unexpected appearance appeared to catch staff off guard, and he questioned why the office had been locked despite being operational even during his absence. The standoff is the latest twist in a leadership saga that began shortly after Eldoret was granted city status last year.
Adding to the complexity of the situation, a prior incident involved unidentified individuals allegedly breaking into the office and assaulting staff. A female officer sustained injuries during the break-in, and Koiyet has since recorded a statement with police regarding the event.
Uasin Gishu County Police Commander Benjamin Mwanthi confirmed that investigations are ongoing and efforts to trace the suspects are still underway.
Contacted for comment, County Secretary Phillip Melly stated he was in a meeting and would respond later, leaving questions about the county government’s role in the impasse unanswered.
With administrative activities stalled and tensions mounting, stakeholders are calling for a swift resolution to the leadership wrangle that threatens to paralyze operations in the newly designated city. As legal proceedings continue, the fate of Eldoret’s city management remains uncertain.
