A three judge bench led by Justice Francis Tuiyot declared a Gazette notice classifying MRC together with 32 other outlawed groups as illegal saying that the grievances presented by the group were different from those of the other banned groups.
In giving its ruling, the High Court advised MRC to form a political party or partner with other national political parties that will help advocate for its grievances. Justices Tuiyot, John Mwera and Mary Kasango termed the Gazette Notice published by the government in 2010 declaring the group illegal as unconstitutional.
The ruling led to celebrations by the secessionist group that has even staged a prayer meeting to be held next weekend at the Mombasa’s Tononoka grounds.
Top security officials in the country held a seven hour long meeting just a day after the ruling was made. The government through the Ministry of Internal Security then ruled out negotiations with the MRC and stated that it can only hold negotiations with the coast region as a whole but not with individuals or groups.
The ruling has since then created a lift between politicians with their differences coming out clearly. Prime Minister Raila Odinga and his deputy Musalia Mudavadi are in agreement with the ruling and have stated that negotiations are key while those allied to the PNU wing of the government led by acting internal Security Minister Yusuf Haji hold a contrary opinion.
The ruling has continued to elicit debate in the public sphere with analysts predicting major political divisions and re-alignment as a result of the same.
It is within the same week that the National Cohesion and Integration Committee (NCIC) has made its presence felt when it was given a writ by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Keriako Tobiko to institute legal proceedings against Matuga Legislator Ali Chirau Mwakwere. Mwakwere has been accused of incitement and hate speech.
NCIC went ahead to clear MPs Kiraitu Murungi of Imenti South and William Ruto of Eldoret North of claims that they had used hate speech during their campaigns. The Commission also launched training for the police officers to help fight hate speech especially during the electioneering period.
The London 2012 Olympics Games lightened up the world when the official opening ceremony was grazed by Queen Elizabeth of United Kingdom. The colourful event sent the world into a celebratory mood with hundreds of thousands attending. A significant number of top government officials from participating countries were notable.
Top world celebrities among them British comedian actor Rowan Atkinson famously known as Mr. Bean and British icon movie star James Bond. The opening ceremony was followed by an estimated five billion people in the world.
The event however was not all good news for all countries as nine athletes were locked out of the championships after they tested positive in a biological passport test. The nine were found to have used drugs that enhance prolonged performance.
Another diplomatic row is simmering between Kenya and Venezuela following the murder of acting Venezuelan envoy to Kenya this week. Ms Olga Fonseca Jimenez. Ms Fonseca was found dead at her official residence in Nairobi’s prestigious Runda Estate early Friday. Police then lodged an investigation into the causes of the death arresting four suspects in connection with the murder.
Nairobi PPO Antony Kibuchi said that police confirmed the death was as a result of Ms Fonseca being strangled by her murderers. The murder has attracted a lot of public attention with a case filed by Venezuela Embassy workers over alleged mistreatments still pending in court. The Diplomatic Police are out to investigate the murder.
As political temperature continue rising in the country, new alliances being born, political animosity moving a notch high and all efforts by politicians geared towards succeeding President Kibaki, the International Criminal Court (ICC) sent a reminder that it was still watching over Kenya.
A representative from the office of the prosecutor sent a chilling warning to anyone found intimidating its witnesses.
ICC said that any one reported or found threatening witnesses will face charges at the Hague based court.
It also affirmed that Kenya’s political landscape will in no way affect the two cases facing Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Eldoret North MP William Ruto, former Public Service Chief Francis Muthaura and Radioman Joshua Arap Sang at the ICC.
Few days after a debate on the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) scandal had started fading, a new row ensued in the National Housing Corporation (NHC) under the Ministry of Housing headed by Malava legislator Soita Shitanda. Allegations were made that the selling of the completed houses was made in an unethical manner.
A public outcry saw the Minister fire the entire NHC board but this did not solve the problem as questions on how Shitanda’s wife acquired a house in Kakamega under the same Corporation came flying high. The Minister found himself on the crossroads trying to explain the procedure of acquiring a house to the public.
Across the borders, Ghana was set to a mourning mood when President John Atta Mills succumbed to a short illness after being taken ill. Mills passed away while undergoing treatment at the Forces Level Five Hospital in the country’s capital Accra.
However, Vice President John Dramani Mahama was sworn in six hours later to fill the vacuum left by the fallen President. Dramin took oath of office and promised the country of stability. The Ghanaian government has so far set August 10th as the date for the burial of Mills.
Posted by Koome Kimonye
