The High Court in Nairobi denied a request for temporary orders that would have halted all political party activities at State House until the case reached its full hearing. The ruling delivered by Justice Bahati Mwamuye marks a significant setback for constitutional advocates who sought swift judicial intervention against what they called the “misuse of public resources for partisan objectives.”
The petition, filed by advocate Lempaa Suyianka, sought emergency conservatory orders to bar President William Ruto and the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) from using State House premises and government facilities for party political events. Suyianka argued that hosting political meetings, caucuses, and aspirant forums at the official presidential residence violated constitutional principles and unfairly advantaged the ruling party.
Justice Mwamuye denied the request for interim injunctions because he wanted the hearing to proceed without any further delay. The judge explained that the petition presents serious constitutional issues, but the court needs to evaluate all proofs before deciding if State House usage for mainly political purposes violates the law.
The challenge followed a series of high-profile gatherings at State House, Nairobi, including a forum attended by thousands of UDA aspirants for the 2027 general elections. The court documents presented evidence that showed that the Head of State conducted internal party councils and meetings with regional political leaders, which combined state activities with political campaigning.
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