Kanu moves to court in bid to oust Uhuru

By Willis OketchThe High Court in Mombasa has directed Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta to file his papers within 30 days in a case where some party members want him out as party chairman.
The order was issued by Justice Jactone Ojwang after the members successfully got orders stopping the Registrar of Political Parties from de-registering the party until a suit against Uhuru was determined.
Justice Ojwang said he gave the order following apprehension of members at the grass roots that their political vehicle was in danger of being deregistered over claims of bad leadership.
National Executive Council member Abdulrahman Bafadhil said the party’s existence was in danger because Uhuru had obstructed change by not calling party elections for members to elect new officials.
The members argued that Uhuru’s continued stay at the helm of Kanu was a stumbling block to the party’s election.
"Failure to convene party elections will lead to the deregistration of the party" said Mr Bafadhil.
The judge said after hearing the ex parte application by the party members that there was a well founded apprehension that Kanu was in danger.
He ordered Uhuru’s rival to serve him within five days so that the hearing of the application should be set in 30 days. "The order shall be served upon the respondents within five days of the date hereof," he said.
The other members are Edward Oluchiri, Mwanchanje Kilelu and Paul Chebii Kibet.
The judge said the application opens an important new chapter in the operation of the Constitution.
"The applicants are concerned about a political party known as Kanu and the extent to which it is currently complying with the law" said Justice Ojwang.