The Building Bridges Initiative Secretariat has announced plans to challenge the High Court ruling that nullified the Constitution of Kenya Amendment Bill 2020.
On Thursday, May 13, Judges George Odunga, Joel Ngugi, Jairus Ngaah, Teresia Matheka and Chacha Mwita nullified the bill that was overwhelmingly endorsed in both houses.
“It is our finding that the popular initiative is a power reserved by Wanjiku neither the president or any other state organ can utilize article 257 to amend the constitution,” the judges ruled.
However, according to the BBI Joint secretaries Junet Mohamed and Denis Waweru, the five-bench judge made personalized attacks against the head of the state.
In a press conference on Friday, May 14, the secretariat further accused the judges of going beyond their call of duty adding that declaring BBI unconstitutional will plunge the country into constitutional crisis.
“On our part we assure Kenyans that we shall continue to promote the constitutional amendment Bill until it’s ratified by Kenyans,” they said.
According to lawyer Steve Ogolla, the petitioners seeking to overturn the High Court ruling on BBI will have a monumental task at the Court of Appel.
He further accused Junet of not having read and understood the judgement warning him that bastardizing the judiciary is a lazy come back strategy.
“I have watched Hon. Junet interview where three things emerge. He has not read the BBI judgement, lacks capacity to comprehend the judgement,” the judges said.
As the allies to the BBI bill promoters Raila Odinga and Uhuru Kenyatta plan to challenge the court ruling, Kenya’s president William Ruto has urged them to accept the results and respect the rule of law.
DP Ruto who has been opposing the Constitutional amendments called upon the Pro-BBI promoters to respect independent institutions and instead asked leaders to bolster the economy as well as fight the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Our democracy is anchored on the rule of law, constitutionalism, separation of power and respect for independent institutions. Now let us focus on Covid-19 vaccination, economic recovery and the big four agenda,” Ruto said in a tweet.
