Fourteen petitioners have moved to court seeking the termination of office terms for President William Ruto and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua through a popular vote in a referendum.
According to the petitioners, the conduct exhibited by the two men at the nation’s helm during the anti-state protests has raised serious competence questions on whether they are capable of running the nation effectively.
In the case where Ruto and Gachagua are the first and respondents respectively, the petitioners argued that they have failed to deal with the political crisis within the confines of the constitution even deploying Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) officers on peaceful protesters and abducting some of them.
“The legitimacy crisis facing Kenya is so profound that the Petitioners contend and seek to have the tenure/ terms of the 1st and 2nd Respondent – as President and Deputy President – terminated through a popular vote in a Referendum that should be held by end of October, 2024,” read the petition in part.
“In a constitutional democracy there can be no justification for the President to deploy the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) to prevent unarmed citizens from protesting and picketing as guaranteed by Article 37 of the Constitution.”
They further accused the police of permitting “political thugs, saboteurs, agent provocateurs, and other goons” to infiltrate the Gen Z-led protests and cause mayhem in the nation.
“Given the brutality, abductions and cold-blooded executions that the police have hitherto unleashed on protesters, it is important that orders be given to direct the Respondents to respect the human right of protesters particularly the rights to life, personal safety and human dignity,” they added.
They further questioned the move by Ruto to consent to the designation of Kenya as a non-NATO ally by the USA, arguing that the move was made devoid of transparency.
“Such a decision is potentially risky to Kenya’s National Security area and its non-aligned foreign policy.”
They now demand that a 5-judge bench should hear the matters raised.
Vexed protesters have demanded President Ruto’s resignation, lamenting failure of accountability amidst swelling corruption in the government.
Bowing to mounting pressure, Ruto dismissed his entire Cabinet and announced austerity measures his government would take.
He has nominated the first batch of the new Cabinet but a few faces have made a second appearance among them Prof. Kithure Kindiki (Interior), Aden Duale (Defence), Alice Wahome (Lands) and Soipan Tuya (Forestry) retaining their former designations.
In an unprecedented move, Ruto moved Tuya to the Defence Ministry and Duale to the Forestry docket.
Ruto also nominated former Trade CS Rebecca Miano to the position of Attorney-General and former Energy CS Davis Chirchir for the Roads and Transport docket.
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula has confirmed that all Cabinet nominees, including those reappointed, will undergo a thorough vetting process by Parliament.
