The High Court on Monday temporarily stopped the swearing in of Anne Kananu Mwenda as Nairobi Governor pending the hearing of a petition filed by the Law Society of Kenya and the Human Rights Commission (KHRC).
The court directed that the matter be forwarded to Acting Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu who will in turn assign the case to a bench comprising of at least three judges.
“Pending further orders of a multi bench and with the view of maintaining the prevailing status quo, a temporary injuction is hereby issued restraining the respondents, their agents and or servants from swearing in as Governor of Nairobi County pending hearing of the application,” reads the court order.
The order comes after Kananu took over as Acting Governor from Speaker Benson Mutura on Monday three days after she was sworn in as deputy governor
The latter has been holding fort in the interim following the impeachment of Mike Sonko.
Addressing the press on Monday morning, Kananu said a committee is currently working on the process for her to be sworn in as Governor for Nairobi County.
“We have the Assumption (of the Office of Governor) Committee that is working on the process. Once the process is done we will communicate,” she said.
Anne Kananu’s elevation to City Hall’s top office has been questioned by legal experts who have poked holes at the manner in which she has been groomed for the seat.
LSK had on Monday moved to court seeking orders to block the swearing in of Ms Kananu.
The society through its President Nelson Havi held that the hurried swearing-in of Kananu to the office was illegal and a brazen attempt to undermine the process of a by-election as required by the Constitution.
