Deputy President William Ruto Reacts After High Court Annuls BBI Process

Deputy President William Ruto has reacted to the High Court ruling that declared the entire Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) referendum process illegal.

Ruto, who has been opposed to the plans to amend the 2010 Constitution through BBI, appeared to celebrate the judgment issued on Thursday by a five-judge bench.

Through Twitter hours after the ruling, Ruto wrote, “There is GOD in heaven who loves Kenya immeasurably. May GOD’S name be PRAISED forever.”

Justices Joel Ngugi, George Odunga, Jairus Ngaah, Teresia Matheka, and Chacha Mwita ruled that President Kenyatta violated the Constitution by initiating the referendum process.

“The constitutional amendment Bill is an initiative of the president and the law is clear that the president does not have the constitutional mandate to initiate any constitutional changes,” the judges said in a unanimous ruling.

They added: “BBI is a hybrid initiative unknown to the constitution, therefore it is our finding that the popular initiative as means to amend the constitution under article 257 of the constitution is a power reserved for Wanjiku. Neither the president nor any state organ can utilize article 257 of the constitution to amend the constitution.”

The judges further overturned the decisions made by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), including verifying BBI signatures, saying the electoral body was not properly constituted as it lacked the requisite quorum of five commissioners to make any major policy decision.

The judges further held that the BBI steering committee was unlawful and had no legal capacity to promote constitutional changes.

“An injunction is hereby issued barring IEBC from undertaking any processes with regards to the amendment of the constitution,” the judges said.

The ruling followed a consolidated case filed by eight petitioners challenging the BBI process.