Ruto Bolsters Authority: More Appointments to Shakahola Inquiry Team Amid Raila Lawsuit
President William Ruto augmented the Shakahola Tragedy Commission of Inquiry by appointing two additional commissioners.
Ruto appointed Abdullatif Essajee Khaderbhai and Hassan Ahmednur Baricha as commissioners to investigate the mass deaths at Shakahola in a gazette notice dated Friday, May 12.
“It is notified for the general information of the public that His Excellency Hon. William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces has appointed Abdullatif Essajee Khaderbhai and Hassan Ahmednur Baricha, as Commissioners of the Commission of Inquiry into the Shakahola Tragedy established vide Gazette Notice No. 5660 of 2023,” a gazette notice signed by Head of Public Service Felix Koskei read in part.
The two commissioners will collaborate with the commission of inquiry led by Lady Justice Jessie Lessit to determine the cause of the tragedy in which more than 150 bodies were exhumed from the forest.
Despite opposition from a portion of the political elite, including former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Ruto strengthened the Shakahola Tragedy Commission of Inquiry.
The former prime minister filed a lawsuit challenging Ruto’s decision to appoint the commission, claiming he had usurped Parliament’s authority.
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Raila also reprimanded the Head of State, informing him that only Parliament has the authority to establish an inquiry commission to investigate the Shakahola tragedy.
“We reiterate that the Constitution empowers only the Judicial Service Commission to recruit qualified individuals to serve on courts. The president has no authority to determine the constitution of a court or independent tribunal, nor who sits on the bench of a court or independent tribunal, according to court documents filed by Paul Mwangi, an attorney.
Ruto also appointed four more members to the task force tasked with reviewing the legal and regulatory framework of religious organizations in the country, despite persistent pressure from a segment of religious leaders.
The new members appointed through the Gazette Notice included Mohammad Dori, Abdisalam Sheikh Mohamed, Sujurtha Kotamraju, and Bishop Amos Lewa.
Reverend Mutava Musyimi, a former member of parliament for the Mbeere South constituency, appointed the four to work under his supervision.
Before the appointments, Ruto had criticized Pastor Paul Mackenzie by equating his actions of starving his followers in the name of fasting with terrorism.
Following the televangelist’s arrest, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki declared that the state was considering charging him with genocide.
Ruto Bolsters Authority: More Appointments to Shakahola Inquiry Team Amid Raila Lawsuit
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