- The Political Parties Dispute Tribunal has granted two temporary petitioners orders restraining the new officers from taking over.
- The applicants’ argument was that the changes were not approved in a national delegates meeting.
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Mt Kenya East bigwigs have been temporarily blocked from taking over Restore and Build Kenya party of Prof James ole Kiyiapi.
The Political Parties Dispute Tribunal has granted two petitioners orders restraining the new officers from assuming office until the matter is heard and determined.
Alloysius Okotch and Peter Ondeng secured the orders on Friday and were directed to serve all the parties by Monday.
The duo challenged the appointment of Watson Kimathi, Rael Murungi, Joseph Kipwambok, Njagi M’Muga, Eunice Karema, Emilio Mureithi Kathuri, Ruth Nkoroi, Pamela Gitobu, Mutuma Dennis, Joseph Mulongo, and Zeyruq Ahmed Sheik as RBK officials.
The petitions want the tribunal to grant an order quashing directives of the Gazette Notice no.7487 appointing the respondents (1-12) as officials of the RBK political party.
The petitioners further want a permanent injunction issued restraining the office of the Registrar of Political Parties from registering the 12 as current officials of RBK.
They also want orders that former officials Charles Jakait (former secretary-general) and chairman Solomon Onyango Ouko hand over all the party documents to Okotch and Ondeng.
“The respondents and their agents as well as servants are herein restrained from acting as officials of Restore and Build Kenya,” the petitioners prayed.
Also sought are orders that any changes or amendment to the party’s constitution, address, physical location, title and name of officials comply with procedures set in the law.
The applicants’ argument was that the changes were not approved in a national delegates meeting in line with the Political Parties Act, 2011.
The petitioners were given until today Monday to serve the respondents and that the same file and serve their responses within three days of service.
The tribunal has set August 23 to hear the petition virtually, maintaining that the incoming officials hold their horses until the matter is heard and determined.
“This tribunal hereby issues interim order for injunction restraining the respondents from assuming offices as officials of RBK,” the orders read.
Newly appointed RBK secretary general Mugambi Imanyara told the Star on Sunday that the order was overtaken by events as the new officials took up their jobs on July 31.
“I have not seen the injunction orders, but if anybody has filed a complaint, we will deal with it in accordance with the law,” he said. “Furthermore, we assumed office two weeks ago so it has been overtaken by events.”
The development may come as a blow to the team led by Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi that is banking on RBK as the party through which Mt Kenya East would negotiate in 2022.
The county chief has been rallying support for the outfit, saying Jubilee was no longer a party of choice ahead of the 2022 general election.
“We want to be independent. We are not talking about the Uhuru government, which we support. Jubilee will be a weak party in the next elections. We are looking post-Uhuru regime,” Murungi said recently.