Kenyan President Suffers Second High Court Blow in a Week

The High Court has ruled that the appointment of all of President William Ruto's 50 Chief Administrative Secretaries (CSAs) was unconstitutional.

While making the ruling, the majority of the 3-judge bench stated that there was no adequate public participation.

Judge Kanyi Kimondo further stated that the framers of the Constitution did not envisage that 50 CASs would deputise 22 cabinet secretaries.

President William Ruto swore in the CASs on March 23, 2023 after the national assembly declined to vett them, saying it had no constitutional authority to do so.

The appointment of the CASs was suspended after the Law Society of Kenya and the Katiba Institute challenged the president's move on the grounds that the law only allowed him to appoint 23 CASs rather than 50.

This comes days after the High Court stopped the implementation of the Finance Bill 2023. Ruto signed into law the Finance Bill that was approved by the national assembly, to raise additional funds through new taxes. The controversial bill was passed during a stormy session, largely boycotted by the opposition.