The High Court has issued orders suspending the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s special Privileges & Immunities status pending the hearing and determination of a case filed by the Law Society of Kenya.
High Court judge Bahati Mwamuye also issued orders prohibiting the respondents from enjoying the Privileges & Immunities perks.
The government’s move to grant Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation immunity in the country has been challenged by the Lawyers’ body, which argues that it should be declared null and void.
The privileges are given to the non-humanitarian organisation.
The government announced, through a Gazette Notice dated October 4, 2024, that the foundation would enjoy certain privileges and immunities in the country.
“The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, in this Order referred to as “the Foundation”, being a charitable trust established to fight poverty, disease and inequality in over one hundred and forty countries globally, and with which the Government of Kenya has entered into an agreement for cooperation, is hereby declared to be an organisation to which section 11 of the Act shall apply,” read the notice.
