A number of Kenyan rights organizations have come together to voice their concerns over the recent remarks made by the President of Kenya regarding the ongoing legal battle over the ownership of Mumias Sugar Company. Four organizations – The Law Society of Kenya, Amnesty International Kenya, Kenya Human Rights Commission, and Humanity Activism Knowledge Integrity (HAKI) Africa – have united to question the president’s stance.
The collective statement from these organizations declared: “The Constitution of Kenya guarantees every person the right to access courts and the right to have every dispute determined in accordance with the laws of the land. The declaration by the President, therefore, appears to suspend the Constitution and substitute the rule of law with the rule and wishes of the Executive. This is clearly unconstitutional and an attempt to return the Country to the dark days of a repressive regime that violated the human rights and freedom of the people of Kenya.”
Other human rights organizations, including the Defenders Coalition, Constitution and Reform Education Consortium, and Muslims for Human Rights have voiced similar concerns. As a group, they are demanding a public apology from the President and a firm commitment to the principles of the rule of law.
The current dispute centers around the ownership and control of the Mumias Sugar Company. In a recent address, the President confirmed his belief that the company should remain in the hands of Kenyan people and issued a stern warning to those individuals currently involved in the legal battle. Following these remarks, he faced a significant backlash from critics, leading him to repeat his earlier statements and reiterated his position that so-called “sugar cartels” were not welcome in the country.
For more information, you can read the full story here.