Looming trouble for Uhuru as Omtatah heads to court

juma chrispinus

February 16, 2018 11:53 AM

Omtatah has returned to Court once again.

Trouble is looming over the appointment of Ken Ogeto as Solicitor General by President Uhuru Kenyatta after renowned activist Okiya Omtatah moved to court on Friday.

Mr Omtatah went to court on Friday, arguing the appointment was unconstitutional since President Uhuru Kenyatta did not follow procedures and that there was no public participation.

He wants the court to stop Parliament from accepting Ogeto's name for vetting.

Uhuru plucked a key ally and long-time aide, Solicitor General Njee Muturi, from the powerful State Law Office where he was the accounting officer. He appointed him the Deputy Chief of Staff and replaced him with Ogeto.

ALSO READ: Did Boni Khalwale's statement confirm NASA split?

Lawyer Ogeto is expected to bring discipline, professionalism, strategic thinking and coordination to the government’s response to legal issues.

Major shakeup

On Tuesday, President Uhuru Kenyatta purged the State’s top legal team following the resignation of Attorney-General Githu Muigai.

In place of Prof Muigai, the President picked Justice Paul Kihara Kariuki, who has been heading the Appellate Court as the president. He is set to be vetted by parliament.

Mr Ogeto is said to be a longtime friend to the president and will be replacing Njee Muturi, now named deputy chief of staff.

Justice Kariuki, Mr Ogeto, and Mr Muturi will join no-nonsense Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, the conservative State House comptroller Kinuthia Mbugua, and Mr Nzioka Waita, the Chief of Staff and Head of the President’s Delivery Unit, bringing to fore President Kenyatta’s intentions of a ruthless delivery run by a circle of friends he trusts.

juma chrispinus