The Attorney General’s Office has sued President William Ruto for words that many perceive as threats to business tycoons with stakes in the sugar industry, just one week after he made the iconic “Mambo ni Matatu” declaration.
On Tuesday, Operation Linda Jamii filed a petition with the High Court in Milimani, seeking an order to compel Ruto to retract his remarks and issue a formal apology. Last week, while on an official visit to the Western area, the President warned the sugar tycoons that they would only have three options remaining if they continued to obstruct government efforts to reform the industry: leaving the country, going to jail, or entering paradise.
Kiongos.com obtained court documents where the lobby organization stated that the President’s statements, made by Ruto, come close to resembling cold-blooded murder threats. The President, who is meant to symbolize national unity, is implicated.
However, the group warned that Kenyans would start believing that the rule of law was being ignored without any remedy if the President did not retract his remarks and provide an official unconditional apology.
We are conducting an operation. Linda Jamii claimed that the Head of State’s approach posed risks and relied on populism to address the challenges, despite acknowledging that the problems in the sugar sector required prompt intervention from the relevant authorities.
According to the advocacy group, the Mambo ni Matatu jab not only issues death threats but also violates the fundamentals of the rule of law.
The lobbying group argues that the comment also questions the Constitution’s checks and balances system and the concept of the separation of powers.
When asked why the organization was taking the attorney general to court instead of Ruto, they explained that the attorney general serves as the principal legal advisor to the National Government.
He represents the government in court or in any other legal procedures where the National Government is a party.
The group highlighted in the petition that billionaire industrialist Jaswant Rai’s decision to drop his appeal against the Mumias Sugar Company lease raised questions about whether he made the decision voluntarily or due to the threats.
The lobby organization thus questioned the effectiveness of the justice system, which requires settling legal disputes following set rules and principles.
As of the time this article was published, neither the President nor Attorney General Justin Muturi has provided any comments on the situation.