Why Kenya’s judges will shape next year’s presidential elections

Five of the seven judges on the Appeal Court bench backed an earlier ruling by the High Court that President Kenyatta could not launch constitutional changes through his Building Bridges Initiative, a plan he has put together with his new found ally Raila Odinga.

Their proposals would have created more posts at the centre of government, devolved more financial power to the county governments and created more parliamentary constituencies. Opponents saw it as a way to perpetuate roles for Kenyatta and Odinga in government.

Judge Patrick Kiage argued the President cannot initiate constitutional changes, then hold a referendum to get citizens to approve them. “Popular initiative is citizen-conceived and driven .. it must be initiated by the mwananchi (citizens) not the President,” said Kiage.