Judiciary denies it presided over swearing-in of Ruto's CASs

It reaffirmed its commitment to upholding the rule of law and the Constitution.

In Summary
  • This comes after the National Coordinator of the Institute for Social Accountability Diana Gichengo claimed that it took part in the event while the matter was pending in court.
  • In a statement on Saturday, the Judiciary said the report was deliberately meant to discredit it.
Newly sworn-in Chief Administrative Secretaries at State House, Nairobi on March 23, 2023.
Newly sworn-in Chief Administrative Secretaries at State House, Nairobi on March 23, 2023.
Image: PCS

The Judiciary has distanced itself from the report that it presided over the swearing-in of the 50 Chief Administrative Secretaries. 

This comes after the National Coordinator of the Institute for Social Accountability Diana Gichengo claimed that it took part in the event while the matter was pending in court.

In a statement on Saturday, the Judiciary said the report was deliberately meant to discredit it.

It maintained that it had no role in the swearing-in of the CASs, Cabinet Secretaries or Principal Secretaries. 

"The Judiciary has no role in the swearing-in of Chief Administrative Secretaries. Similarly, the Judiciary does not play any role in the swearing-in of Cabinet Secretaries and Principal Secretaries," the statement reads in part. 

It reaffirmed its commitment to upholding the rule of law and the Constitution.

On Thursday, the CASs were sworn in by President William Ruto at the State House.

This was despite there being a petition filed by Eliud Matindi, a Kenyan citizen residing in the United Kingdom, who sought to have the appointments declared illegal.

But when the matter was coming up for hearing, the order he sought had already been overtaken by events since the CAS had already been sworn in.

On Friday, the High Court issued orders barring the CASs from earning any salary, remuneration or any benefit pending the determination of an application filed by the Law Society of Kenya and Katiba Institute.

LSK and Katiba Institute said the nomination of 27 extra CASs goes against a letter to the PSC chairperson from the Head of Public Service in October 2022 requesting for a vacancy declaration of 23 vacancies in the office of CAS.

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