Judicial Bombshell Rocks Kenya: Court Forces Ruto's Hand on Cabinet Gender Rule
President William Ruto's Cabinet faces continued legal scrutiny after the Court of Appeal declined to suspend a High Court order declaring it illegal. This decision closed the immediate window for reconstitution, prolonging the legal challenge. The Attorney General is now tasked with serving the application to other parties, who have 30 days to respond.
The legitimacy of President William Ruto's Cabinet has been a subject of intense legal challenge, following a High Court declaration that deemed it an illegality. This crucial ruling had set a firm deadline, compelling the President to reconstitute his Cabinet by midnight on a specific Wednesday, highlighting a significant constitutional and legal dilemma for the executive.
A pivotal moment occurred when the Court of Appeal, on Thursday, declined to suspend the High Court's aforementioned order. This decision effectively shut down President Ruto's immediate opportunity to comply with the reconstitution requirement within the set timeframe. The Appellate Court's refusal to grant a suspension means the legal cloud over the Cabinet's legality persists, with no immediate reprieve for the presidency.
Instead of suspending the order, the Court of Appeal issued a directive to the Attorney General, Dorcas Oduor. As per this instruction, the Attorney General is tasked with serving the application to all other parties involved in the case. These parties have been granted a period of 30 days to prepare and file their responses and submissions. This development indicates that the legal battle over the Cabinet's legitimacy is far from over, shifting the focus to ongoing judicial processes and further arguments from various stakeholders.