Kenya’s Deputy President William Ruto’s allies have overwhelmingly celebrated the Court of Appeal decision to uphold the High Court’s BBI bill judgment which declared the plan to amend Kenya’s constitution as illegal, null, and void.
In what appears to be a sign of judicial independence in Kenya, a seven-judge bench unanimously declared the Constitutional Amendment Bill 2020 unconstitutional, illegal null, and void.
The bench consisted of Court of Appeal President Daniel Musinga, Justices Roselyn Nambuye, Hannah Okwengu, Patrick Kiage, Gatembu Kairu, Fatuma Sichale, and Francis Tuiyott.
“The president cannot use his executive power to initiate a constitutional process. Popular Initiative under Article 257 is a process began by the voter, not their representatives or the government,” Justice Okwengu said.
The majority of William Ruto’s allies who voted for NO at both the National Assembly and senate flooded social media congratulate the bench for judging in their favor.
On his part, the Deputy President said God has come through for Kenyans and saved the country from a clique of powerful individuals who were out to destroy the country’s constitution.
“God, our heavenly father has come through for Kenya and stopped the coalition of the known, the mighty, and the powerful from destroying our constitution. Our God, help the alliance of the unknown, the jobless, the Hustlers and struggling farmers to now engineer our economy from the bottom-up,” Ruto said.
Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen took to his official social media to celebrate the judgment saying the seven judges showed an act of bravery.
“I congratulate my colleagues in the Senate and National Assembly who voted NO to BBI. That was an act of bravery. We felt lonely then but today are in the company of giants of truth and justice. God bless you,” he said.
On his part, Murang’a senator Irungu Kang’ata said, “Judges are saying, after” Nobody can stop Reggae “, the next songs by Lucky Dube in his album “Prisoner ” are ” Remember me ” and “Don’t cry”( baba). It ends with ” Born to suffer “.
