The High Court has certified urgent a petition contesting the establishment of a judicial commission to investigate the Shakahola massacre.
The Azimio coalition filed a judicial challenge to the commission, which was sworn in on Tuesday, May 9th.
In the petition, Azimio leader Raila Odinga claimed that President William Ruto’s action is unlawful since it amounts to the seizure of powers placed in other state institutions under the Constitution.
The coalition claims that the president’s move would jeopardize the independence of the Commission of Inquiry, which will report to him.
In his prayers, Raila Odinga requests that the president’s action be reversed, claiming that the duty falls solely on the shoulders of parliament.
The commission, led by Justice Jesse Lessit is on a mission to investigate any omissions that led to Pastor Mackenzie’s starvation cult to flourish.
So far, the death toll in Shakahola has risen to 145 with over 500 people reported missing.
