‘Mambo ni Matatu’ remark lands Ruto in court
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Operation Linda Jamii sues President William Ruto over 'Mambo ni Matatu' remarks, seeking a formal apology
Operation Linda Jamii sues President William Ruto over ‘Mambo ni Matatu’ remarks, seeking a formal apology.
President William Ruto has been sued through the Attorney General’s Office for his ‘Mambo ni Matatu’ remarks widely interpreted to be threats to investors with interests in the sugar industry.
On Tuesday, Operation Linda Jamii petitioned the High Court in Milimani for an order compelling Ruto to retract and issue a formal apology for the remarks.
This comes after the President issued a warning to the sugar tycoons, saying that they would only have three options left to them: leave the country, go to jail, or go to heaven if they continued to obstruct government efforts to reform the industry.
The lobby organization said in court documents that Ruto’s comments teeter on the edge of being callous death threats by the President, who is meant to be a symbol of national unity.
“The President’s comments if not retracted and an official unconditional apology proffered, will create a perception in Kenya that undermines judicial independence and will also see the rule of law disrespected without a recourse,” the group submitted.
Operation Linda Jamii asserted that the Head of State’s approach was a risky and populist way to solve the challenges, even as it acknowledged that problems plaguing the sugar sector demanded rapid intervention from relevant powers.
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The Mambo ni Matatu jab, in the opinion of the advocacy group, not only amounts to death threats but also violates the fundamentals of the rule of law.
The lobbying group contends that the comment also calls into question the Constitution’s checks and balances system and the notion of the separation of powers.
On why the group was taking the attorney general to court instead of Ruto, it explained, “The attorney general is the principal legal advisor to the National Government.”
“He represents the government in court or in any other legal proceedings to which the National Government is a party to.”
In the petition, the group highlighted the decision by billionaire industrialist Jaswant Rai to withdraw a case challenging the leasing of the Mumias Sugar Company at the Appellate Court casting doubts as to whether the move was voluntary or triggered by the threats.
The lobby group therefore questioned the efficacy of the justice system, which mandates the resolution of legal matters in accordance with established rules and principles.
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