NGO Head Files Petition Preventing Newly Appointed CSs From Opposition Taking Office

On Friday, a petitioner filed a court petition seeking orders to prevent some of President William Ruto’s cabinet nominees from being appointed as ministers.

The Executive Director of the Commission for Human Rights and Justice filed a petition to prevent four Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party members recently nominated by Ruto from taking office.

According to the petitioner, the appointments of John Mbadi, James Wandayi, Ali Hassan Joho, and Wycliffe Oparanya would undermine the opposition’s role in keeping the government on its toes.

While seeking orders, the petitioner argued that the opposition was constitutionally recognized, so nominating the four would pose an imbalance within the opposition.

He went on to argue that allowing the opposition to join the government would subject the entire Kenyan population to significant prejudice as well as a violation and infringement of their constitutional rights.

“The nomination and appointment of the Interested Parties into the cabinet and/or government as secretaries shall conflict with their constitutional duty bestowed upon the opposition party,” the petitioner argued.

“This shall also conflict with their constitutional duty bestowed upon the opposition party by the people of Kenya and the constitution to oversight the government.”

The petitioner also requested that an order be issued to halt the process of vetting the four ODM members for the position of cabinet secretary.

“It is thus fair and just that the matter be heard on a priority basis and the orders sought to be granted to protect the constitution from its violation by the Respondents,” stated the Director of the Commission for Human Rights and Justice.

The latest development comes just two days after President William Ruto announced the nomination of the second batch of cabinet secretaries.

While addressing the press at State House in Nairobi, the Head of State nominated ODM’s John Mbadi (Treasury), Opiyo Wandayi (Energy and Petroleum), Ali Hassan Joho to Mining, and Wycliffe Oparanya to the Ministry of Co-operations.

Ruto’s decision to nominate opposition leaders to his administration comes just a fortnight after he promised to form an inclusive, broad-based government.