The High Court has temporarily halted recruitment of at least 12 senior management and professional positions at the Kenya Reinsurance Corporation (Kenya Re) pending determination of a case challenging the exercise on claims of non-transparency.
The court barred the Nairobi Securities Exchange-listed insurer from processing applications, interviewing candidates or issuing appointment letters.
The frozen recruitment relates to vacancies advertised on June 4, 2026, including three general manager positions for reinsurance business, legal services and corporate services.
The recruitment also covers the positions of two chief financial officers for Kenya Re Tanzania and Zambia, and chief executive officer/principal officer for Kenya Re Tanzania.
Other positions include: assistant manager for internal audit, assistant manager for risk and compliance, senior underwriter for life, treaty and facultative business, and executive assistant to the group managing director.
The High Court granted the interim injunction after petitioner Brian Ochieng argued that Kenya Re had already started inviting shortlisted applicants for interviews and risked completing the process before the constitutional dispute could be heard. The freeze order will remain in force until October 1, 2026, when the case is scheduled for mention.
Mr Ochieng told the court that Kenya Re, through a contracted recruitment agency, had invited candidates for interviews beginning July 15, creating urgency for intervention.
He alleges that the recruitment lacked transparency, saying job applications were being processed through an email account accessible only to the group managing director, creating room for “canvassing, compromising and interference.” Those allegations have not been determined by the court. He argued that allowing the process to continue would undermine the pending petition.
“If the respondents are allowed to proceed with the said interviews and issue letters of employment to successful candidates, the substratum of the application… and the Petition herein will be defeated,” Ochieng’s advocate said.
He further argued that “the actions will be irreversible as successful applicants will be confirmed as employees of the respondent.”
He alleged lack of transparency, saying applications were being processed through an opaque system vulnerable to meddling.
The petitioner insisted that the balance of convenience favoured preserving the recruitment until the court determines whether it complied with constitutional and statutory requirements.
The application relies on a recent Supreme Court decision affirming that the High Court has authority to hear constitutional challenges involving pre-employment recruitment processes where no employer-employee relationship exists.
Mr Ochieng said he was neither an employee of Kenya Re nor an applicant for the advertised positions.
The High Court earlier certified the matter urgent and directed the respondents to file responses within seven days.
The constitutional petition underlying the injunction seeks declarations against Kenya Re Group Managing Director Hillary Wachinga and general manager for finance and credit control Ruth Ngugi and Kenya Re over alleged violations of constitutional rights, procurement law and public service principles.
Kenya Re is a publicly listed reinsurer in which the Kenyan government holds a majority stake. It provides reinsurance services in Kenya and several African markets, making the halted recruitment significant for the corporation’s senior management and professional staffing.