A legal storm is brewing over the rising number of presidential advisors at State House, as Nairobi-based lawyer Vincent Lempaa Suyianka has filed a petition at the Milimani Law Courts seeking to bar President William Ruto from appointing any more advisors and to freeze salaries of the 21 currently serving.
Suyianka’s petition challenges the legality of the president’s growing team of advisors, claiming their appointments lack a legal or regulatory framework, violating constitutional standards of transparency, public participation, and adherence to public service principles.
“The President has created a parallel civil service that duplicates official government roles,” the petitioner states, arguing that this expansion of advisors has occurred without parliamentary oversight or public input. According to the court documents, these individuals are political appointees enjoying hefty compensation packages, allegedly costing the taxpayer billions of shillings annually.
In his notice of motion, Suyianka wants the 21 current advisors stopped from receiving salaries or allowances until the case is heard and determined. He further contends that the establishment of these advisory roles was unconstitutional, circumventing the three recognized legal avenues for creating public offices.
“There was no gazette notice, no public consultation, and no transparency in the creation of these positions,” Suyianka argued, pointing to what he calls a deliberate effort to bypass established legal channels.
Public concern has grown as the number of presidential advisors reportedly rose from 7 to 17 within just ten months, contradicting President Ruto’s earlier pledge to streamline the Executive and reduce the number of advisors by half.
The case adds to the broader debate over government spending and transparency within the Kenya Kwanza administration. The court is expected to set a hearing date soon, as the legal battle unfolds over what critics describe as an unchecked expansion of executive influence within the civil service.
Written By Rodney Mbua
