Kibaki accused of flouting the law

Civil society activists from South Nyanza have accused President Kibaki of violating the constitution. The activists said Kibaki is disrespecting Kenyans who passed the constitution by holding on to decisions annulled by courts. “The President has been adamant despite a move by courts to overturn all his illegal appointments and he still holds on to them, which is a bad sign for this country ahead of the forthcoming general election,” said Chacha Chacha of People for Rural Change Trust , a human rights network.

Chacha said even after the court outlawed the appointment of the 47 county commissioners, they are still in office, getting salaries from taxpayers illegally. “What the president is showing Kenyans is that the constitution can be violated by powerful elites with impunity,” he said.

Chacha was speaking in Migori town at the weekend where the activists signed a petition to Parliament questioning why the government has hired Kibe Mungai, a private lawyer, to represent it in the appeal case of the commissioners yet Attorney General Githu Muigai is the government’s chief legal adviser.