Kenyan court slams brakes on Uhuru Kenyatta s constitutional changes 14 May 2021 - 10:15 By Duncan Miriri Kenyatta says the bill promotes the sharing of power among competing ethnic groups to reduce cyclical election violence and is not targeting anyone. Image: REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes
Kenya s High Court ruled on Thursday that a drive by President Uhuru Kenyatta to change the constitution was illegal, stopping what his critics have called a political move designed to check his deputy, whom he has fallen out with publicly.
Parliament has already passed the proposed amendments, popularly known as the Building Bridges Initiative, which mark the biggest change to the East African nation s government structure since a new constitution was adopted in 2010.
FILE PHOTO: Kenya s President Uhuru Kenyatta speaks during a joint statement with Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan at the State House, in Nairobi, Kenya, May 4, 2021. REUTERS/Baz Ratner/File Photo
NAIROBI (Reuters) - Kenya s High Court ruled on Thursday that a drive by President Uhuru Kenyatta to change the constitution was illegal, stopping what his critics have called a political move designed to check his deputy, whom he has fallen out with publicly.
Parliament has already passed the proposed amendments, popularly known as the Building Bridges Initiative, which mark the biggest change to the East African nation s government structure since a new constitution was adopted in 2010.
By Duncan Miriri
Parliament has already passed the proposed amendments, popularly known as the Building Bridges Initiative, which mark the biggest change to the East African nation’s government structure since a new constitution was adopted in 2010.
But issuing a ruling on several challenges lodged by various parties, a five-judge bench of the court said Kenyatta had used a constitutional provision reserved for citizens to initiate the changes, making the process illegal.
“The president cannot be both player and umpire in the same match,” said Jairus Ngaah, one of the judges.
The government, which wants to hold a referendum after Kenyatta signs the bill into law, said it will appeal the ruling.
Kenya to close 2 refugee camps next year
Kenya says it is working with the UN to find solutions for some 430,000 refugees displacement as it shuts down the Dadaab and Kakuma camps.
The Dadaab refugee camp is is one of the world s largest
Kenya is preparing to shut down two camps hosting over 430,000 refugees by June 2022, the government said on Thursday.
Following a meeting between Kenya s President Uhuru Kenyatta and UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi, the East African country said it planned to repatriate some and give others residency.
UNHCR presented Kenya with what it said were sustainable rights-based measures for finding solutions for the refugees long-standing displacement.