Petition Seeks Withdrawal of National Oil CEO Recruitment Cancellation
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A petition has been filed seeking to compel the National Oil Corporation of Kenya to withdraw the cancellation of its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) recruitment process and restart the hiring exercise.
The petition was filed by Meshack Gwaro against the Board of Directors of the National Oil Corporation of Kenya and National Oil Corporation of Kenya Limited, among other parties.
According to the court filing, the case was lodged at the Milimani High Court on August 21, 2026, under case number HCCHRPET/E562/2026.
Petition Challenges Cancellation of National Oil Corporation CEO Recruitment
The petitioner is asking the court to order the National Oil Board to withdraw the cancellation notice and restart a transparent and competitive public recruitment process for the CEO position.
This follows the company’s decision to cancel a vacancy notice for the position of Chief Executive Officer.
National Oil advertised the position on August 11 under reference number NOC/HR/CEO/01/08/026, with applications initially scheduled to close at midnight EAT on August 28.
However, the company later marked the vacancy notice “CANCELLED,” prompting the petitioner to seek the court’s intervention.
Also Read: National Oil Corporation Declares CEO Position Vacant
Petition Seeks Restart of CEO Recruitment
According to the petition, Gwaro is seeking an order of mandamus compelling the National Oil Board to withdraw the cancellation notice and commence a transparent and competitive public recruitment process for the CEO position.
The petition also seeks a declaration that the acting CEO’s tenure lawfully ends on September 3, 2026.
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It further asks the court to declare any extension, renewal or retention beyond that date unconstitutional, illegal, null and void.
The petitioner has also sought a conservatory order restraining National Oil from paying the interested party any acting salary, executive allowances or other financial benefits tied to the CEO position after September 3.
Additionally, the petition asks the court to award the costs of the case to the petitioner.
The matter is classified as a High Court Constitution and Human Rights Petition (Civil) and was filed by Bundi Advocates at the Milimani High Court.
It involves Meshack Gwaro vs the Board of Directors, National Oil Corporation of Kenya and National Oil Corporation of Kenya Limited and two others, and it is filed under case number HCCHRPET/E562/2026.
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A signpost at a petrol station branded by the National Oil Corporation. PHOTO/ Nation Media Group