A petition challenging the continued tenure of Kenya Railways Managing Director and CEO Philip Mainga has been withdrawn, just a day after a Kisumu court issued orders barring him from exercising the powers of his office.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

The petition was withdrawn through a notice filed by the petitioner's lawyers, Allamano & Associates, on Tuesday, August 11, shortly after the Employment and Labour Relations Court issued interim orders against Mainga.

In a letter addressed to the Chairperson and Board of Directors of Kenya Railways Corporation, the lawyers confirmed that they had withdrawn the petition and accompanying application without giving reasons for the decision.

The withdrawal came a day after Justice Nzioki wa Makau issued conservatory orders restraining Mainga from occupying, holding himself out as, or exercising the powers and functions of the Managing Director and CEO pending an inter partes hearing.

📌 What You Need to Know

The court had scheduled the matter for hearing on August 18, 2026, with the respondents required to file and serve their responses within three days.

Further, the development comes amid separate concerns raised by railway workers over Mainga's leadership. Last month, the Railway Allied Workers Union (RAWU) threatened industrial action over what it described as poor working conditions, low wages and an outdated salary structure.

RAWU Secretary General Erick Tirop accused Kenya Railways management of neglecting workers' welfare and called for Mainga to step aside, while also claiming that his term had expired earlier this year.

The union warned that a strike could disrupt railway services across the country, including key passenger operations such as the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR).

The petition, filed by Joan Machuma Nyongesa, challenged Mainga's continued occupation of the position, arguing that his first three-year term began on February 3, 2020, and expired on February 2, 2023.

She further argued that his second three-year term, which reportedly began on February 3, 2023, expired on February 2, 2026, and questioned his continued exercise of the office after that date.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke