Editor's Review

  • Attorney General Paul Kihara Kariuki cites dissatisfaction with the decision made by the five-bench judge.

Attorney General Paul Kihara Kariuki has filed a petition appealing the judgement on the BBI bill citing dissatisfaction in the decision made by the five-bench judge.

Last week the AG expressed his disappointment with the Thursday High Court ruling that declared the BBI process unconstitutional.

Through Solicitor General Ken Ogeto, Mr Kihara vowed to appeal the decision, arguing that the BBI process is a matter of national interest and is backed by over 3 million Kenyans.

Ogeto filed an application seeking to have the High Court ruling on BBI suspended in order to allow the AG to file an appeal.

According to the AG, since BBI is a matter of public interest, it is important that the case is heard by a higher court.

“It is in the public interest that pending the filing of the Appeal and to enable him to exercise his right of appeal, an interim stay of execution of the judgment hereby stayed.

“The Hon AG is dissatisfied with the judgment in its entirety, and he has firm instructions to move to the court of Appeal to challenge this decision. The public interest is a serious consideration in considering a relief in a matter such as this. I urge your honour to grant a stay of your judgment,” Ogeto’s application read in part.

Lawyers have argued that the ruling by the High Court on the Constitution Amendment Bill 2020 also known as the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) opens the door for anyone to initiate President Uhuru Kenyatta's impeachment.

On Thursday, May 13, 2021, the High Court determined that the Head of State had subverted Chapter 6, Article 73 (1) (a) (i) of the Constitution by initiating the BBI process contrary to its provisions on amending it.