Case to Remove Interior CS Fred Matiang'i from Office Filed

The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has filed a petition in court seeking to have Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, and his ICT counterpart Joe Mucheru declared unfit to hold office.

The lawyers' body wants the two removed from office over their role in the shutting down of three television stations for airing the mock swearing in of National Super Alliance (Nasa) leader Raila Odinga on January 30th.

LSK argues that the two Cabinet Secretaries, alongside Communications Authority Director abused their powers by “acting in a partisan, subjective and dictatorial manner.”

In a petition filed at the Milimani Law Courts, the body wants the trio held personally accountable for violating their oath of office.

"The three officials abused their power and authority and are individually liable for violating the Constitution which they swore to uphold and protect,” LSK's petition reads.

“At all material times, the sued parties whether acting jointly or severally abused their power and authority by acting in a partisan, subjective as well as dictatorial manner."

In a press briefing on January 31st, Matiang'i said the media stations had been given a full security briefing ahead of the swearing in, but some of them ignored it.

Citizen TV , KTN News and NTV, which were affected by the switch off are listed as interested parties in the case.