Twelve Kenya Bora Tuitakayo Citizens Association activists have filed a court petition to prevent the installation of Cabinet Secretaries (CS) nominations Kithure Kindiki, Opiyo Wandayi and Aden Duale, citing a violation of the constitution.
The petitioners argue that the Constitution prohibits terminated public office holders from being reappointed to public service. READ FULL STORY
Additionally, the petitioners contended that Wandayi’s appointment would be a waste of public monies if the Ugunja Constituency is returned to the vote.
“The constitution is clear that a state or public officer once dismissed cannot be appointed to public office. This is in line with Article 73 and 75 under Chapter 6 of the Constitution
“Article 201 demands prudent use of resources. If Wandayi is made CS, a by-election will be occasioned by the President. The President already caused numerous by-elections in 2022 by appointing Alice Wahome, Duale, and Kipchumba Murkomen,” Cyprian Nyamwamu who led the activists in filing the petitions said.
The activists are afraid that Kindiki’s re-appointment might interfere with ongoing investigations into human rights violations perpetrated by security personnel during recent anti-government protests.
“Other than the people who were brutally killed and maimed by the police, the police went on a kidnapping spree and Kindiki must bear the highest responsibility for all these atrocities that were meted out to the Kenyan youth whose only crime was a clamor for a just, accountable, ethical and equitable Kenyan society,” read their petition in part.
The activists also stated that the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights reported that 60 individuals perished and 66 others went missing.
They protested Wandayi’s candidacy as a CS nominee for Energy, claiming it was in clear violation of Article 10.
They noted that Wandayi’s selection would damage multi-party democracy because he is the parliament’s minority leader.
Furthermore, the petitioners argue that Wandayi’s nomination would force a by-election in Ugunja, which is a waste of public funds.