Dy

nami
csandChal
lengesi
nImpl
ement
ati
onofChecksandBal
ancesandSepar
ati
on
ofPower
sinKeny
a’s2010Const
it
uti
on:I
nter
rogat
ingt
hePl
aceofPoweri
ntheThr
ee
Ar
msofGov
ernment

By

Maf
umboAl
l
anWaf
ulaKepha

4thYearUnder
graduat
eSt
udent
,MoiUni
ver
sit
ySchoolofLaw

Abst
ract

Ther
ehasbeen a l
otofpowerpl
ayand gr
andst
andi
ng i
nthei
mpl
ement
ati
on of
‘
separ
ati
onpower
s’i
nthepost2010er
a.Wher
east
hepr
inci
pleoft
ri
aspol
i
ticai
snoti
n
i
ssue,t
hei
mpl
ement
ati
onoft
hepr
inci
plesofsepar
ati
onoff
unct
ionsandchecksand
bal
ancehasconst
ant
lyescapedourgr
ip.Ther
ehav
ebeencl
aimsandsuggest
ionst
hat
t
heExecut
ivehasencr
oachedupont
hedut
iesoft
heJudi
ciar
yandt
heLegi
slat
uret
hus
r
ender
ingt
hedoct
ri
neof‘
separ
ati
onofpower
s’el
usi
veandpr
obl
emat
ic.Usi
ngpr
imar
y
andsecondar
ysour
ces,andbasedonf
act
spr
ovi
dedher
ein,t
hest
udyest
abl
i
shedt
hat
i
ndeedt
her
ear
ear
easwher
ether
eisi
nter
fer
ence.Fi
ndi
ngshav
eal
sor
eveal
edt
hat
member
s of t
he j
udi
ciar
y and Legi
slat
ure hav
evoi
ced sent
iment
s suggest
ing
i
nter
fer
ence.Keny
ashoul
dst
ri
vet
odet
achi
tsel
ffr
om bei
nga“
grav
e”ofabeaut
if
ul
Const
it
uti
onandr
atherembar
kont
her
espectf
ort
her
uleofl
aw,goodgov
ernance,
t
ranspar
encyandaccount
abi
l
ity
.

I
ntr
oduct
ion

I
nthesev
ent
eent
hcent
uryEngl
and,t
hedoct
ri
neof‘
Separ
ati
onofPower
s’emer
gedf
or
t
hef
ir
stt
imeasacoher
entt
heor
yofgov
ernment
,expl
i
cit
lysetout
,andur
gedast
he
1
“
grandsecr
etofl
i
ber
tyandgoodgov
ernment
.” I
n1748,
Bar
ondeMont
esqui
eubui
l
ton
t
hisdoct
ri
ne-
aswast
henenv
isagedundert
heEngl
i
shConst
it
uti
on-i
nhi
sfamousbook
2
Esper
itdeLoi
s(TheSpi
ri
toft
heLaws)
.

Theunder
lyi
ngpr
inci
plebehi
ndMont
esqui
eu’
swor
kwast
hat
,foranygov
ernmentt
o

1
M.J.C.Vi
l
e,Const
it
utional
i
sm andtheSeparat
ionofPower
s(2ndEdn,
Liber
tyFund,
1967)
.
2
Bar
onMontesqui
eu,TheSpiri
toft
heLaws,(1748).

Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3695999

r
emai
nst
abl
eandf
unct
ionef
fi
cient
lyaswel
lasef
fect
ivel
y,t
hehol
der
sofpowerneed
t
obeputonacheckagai
nsteachot
her
.Mont
esqui
euenv
isi
onedf
ourel
ement
sthat
under
li
net
het
heor
yofsepar
ati
onofpower
s:f
ir
st,t
hesameper
sonshoul
dnotf
orma
par
tofmor
ethanoneoft
het
hreear
msofgov
ernment
;second,oneor
ganoft
he
gov
ernmentshoul
dnoti
nter
fer
ewi
thanyot
heror
ganoft
hegov
ernment
;thi
rd,one
or
ganoft
hegov
ernmentshoul
dnotexer
ciset
hef
unct
ionsassi
gnedt
oanyot gan3;
heror
andl
ast
ly,
thateachor
ganofst
ateaut
hor
it
ybeent
rust
edwi
thspeci
alpower
sdesi
gned
t
okeepcheckont
heexer
ciseoff
unct
ionsbyt
heot
her
s.

I
nthepr
esentdayandage,t
hepr
inci
pleofsepar
ati
onofpower
sissi
mpl
ydef
inedas
t
hedi
vi
sionofgov
ernment
alaut
hor
it
yint
hreebr
anchesofgov
ernment
-l
egi
slat
ure,
4
execut
ive,
andj
udi
ciar
y-eachwi
thi
tsowndut
ies. Puti
tinsi
mpl
ert
erms,
separ
ati
onof
power
sist
hedi
vi
sionofpower
sint
odi
sti
nctbr
anchesofgov
ernment,eachwi
tht
hei
r
5
ownr
esponsi
bil
i
tiesi
nabi
dtopr
eventt
heabuseofpowerandaut
ocr
acy
.

Thi
sAr
ti
cleshal
lint
err
ogat
ethemanneri
nwhi
cht
hedoct
ri
neof‘
separ
ati
onofpower
s’
has been under i
mpl
ement
ati
on i
n Keny
a si
nce t
he pr
omul
gat
ion of t
he new
Const
it
uti
on i
n 2010,wi
tht
he ai
m ofpoi
nti
ng outt
he i
l
lst
hatpar
aly
ze t
he f
ull
i
mpl
ement
ati
onoft
hisdoct
ri
ne,
andof
fersuggest
ionf
orr
efor
ms.

TheSepar
ati
onofPower
sinKeny
aasenv
isi
onedundert
he2010Const
it
uti
on
6
TheConst
it
uti
onv
est
sal
lsov
erei
gnpowert
othepeopl
eofKeny
a. Thedel
egat
ionof
t
hissov
erei
gnpowerasenv
isi
onedunderAr
ti
cle1br
ingsf
ort
h,i
nver
yexpl
i
citt
erms,
t
hedoct
ri
neofsepar
ati
onofpower
s.Ar
ti
cle1(
3)pr
ovi
desspeci
fi
cal
l
ythatsov
erei
gn
powerundert
heConst
it
uti
oni
sdel
egat
edt
othr
eest
ateor
ganswhi
chshoul
dex
erci
se
t
hei
rmandat
esonl
yinaccor
dancewi
tht
heConst
it
uti
on:Par
li
amentandl
egi
slat
ive
assembl
i
es i
nthe count
ygov
ernment
s;t
he nat
ionalexecut
ive and t
he execut
ive

3
Ri
shabhRao,‘ Montesquieu’sTheor yofSepar ati
onofPower s:How ithasbeenadopt edinIndia’
.(10
December2019) .ht
tps://
lawsist o.com/artci
leread/MzQ4/Montesqui
eus-Theor
y-of
-Seper
ati
on-of-
Power s-
How-it-
has-been-adopted-i
n-India.
4
BrayanCar ner,Bl
ack’sLawDi ctionary,
(9thEdn, WestPubl
ishi
ngCompany2009)45.
5
WillKenton, ‘
Separ
ationofPower s’
,(10Febr uary,
2020).
6
TheConst ituti
onofKeny a,2010, Art
icl
e1( 1).

Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3695999

 7
st
ruct
uresi
nthecount
ygov
ernment
s;andt
hej
udi
ciar
yandi
ndependentt
ri
bunal
s.

Basedont
hepr
ovi
sionsofAr
ti
cle1(
3)asr
eadt
oget
herwi
thAr
ti
cle1(
4)t
hisst
udy
hol
dst
hatt
hesepar
ati
onofpower
sundert
he2010 Const
it
uti
oni
stwo pr
onged:
hor
izont
alandv
ert
ical
.Hor
izont
alsepar
ati
onofpower
sappl
i
est
otheext
entt
hatt
he
sov
erei
gn powershal
lbe exer
cised by t
hree ar
ms ofgov
ernment
-t
he execut
ive,
l
egi
slat
ureandt
hej
udi
ciar
y.Thev
ert
icalsepar
ati
onofsov
erei
gnpoweront
heot
her
hand,appl
i
est
otheext
entt
hatt
hesov
erei
gnpoweri
sexer
cisedatt
henat
ionall
evel
8
and t
he count
ylev
el,i
n whi
ch bot
hlev
els ofgov
ernmentar
e di
sti
nctand i
nter
-
9
dependentbutoper
ateont
hebasi
sofconsul
tat
ionandcooper
ati
on. Howev
er,t
he
st
udyf
ocusesont
hehor
izont
alsepar
ati
onofpower
s.

UnderChapt
er8oft
heConst
it
uti
on,t
hePar
li
ament
-t
heNat
ionalAssembl
yandt
he
Senat
e-der
ivesi
tsl
egi
slat
iveaut
hor
it
yfr
om t
hepeopl a10 and hasbeen
eofKeny
11
accor
dedspeci
fi
cfunct
ionswhi
chmustbeexer
cisedsubj
ectt
otheConst
it
uti
on. The
Nat
ionalAssembl
yrepr
esent
sthepeopl
eoft
heconst
it
uenci
esandspeci
ali
nter
est
s.I
t
i
sal
sot
askedwi
th:del
i
ber
ati
onandr
esol
vi
ngi
ssuesofconcer
ningt
hepeopl
e,t
he
det
ermi
nat
ionofnat
ionalr
evenuet
obeal
l
ocat
edbet
weent
hel
evel
sofgov
ernment
,
ov
ersi
ghtofnat
ionalr
evenue and i
ts expendi
tur
e,t
he r
evi
ew ofconducti
nthe
pr
esi
dent
’sandhi
sdeput
y’sof
fi
ceaswel
lasot
herst
ateof
fi
cer
sandi
nit
iat
est
hei
r
12
i
mpeachment
,andt
heov
ersi
ghtofSt
ateor i
gans,nt
eral
i
a.

TheSenat
epr
imar
il
yrepr
esent
sthecount
ies,andser
vest
opr
otectt
hei
rint
erest
s.The
Senat
eal
so:par
ti
cipat
esi
nlaw maki
ngbyconsi
der
ing,debat
ingandappr
ovi
ngBi
l
ls
concer
ningcount
ies;
det
ermi
nest
heal
l
ocat
ionofnat
ionalr
evenueamongcount
iesand
exer
cisesov
ersi
ghtov
ert
henat
ionalr
evenueal
l
ocat
edt
ocount
ies;andpar
ti
cipat
esi
n
t
heov
ersi
ghtofSt
ateof
fi
cer
sbyconsi
der
inganddet
ermi
ninganyr
esol
uti
ont
oremov
e
13
t
hePr
esi
dentorhi
sdeput
yfr
om of
fi
cei
naccor
dancewi
thAr
ti
cle145.

7
Ibi
d,Art
icl
e1(3).
8
TheConstit
utionofKeny
a2010,
Art
icl
e1(
4).
9
Ibi
d,Art
icl
e6( 2).
10
Art
icl
e94( 1)
.
11
Art
icl
e93( 2)
.
12
Art
icl
e95.
13
Art
icl
e96.

Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3695999

Wi
thr
egar
dtot
heExecut
ive,Chapt
er9oft
heConst
it
uti
onbol
dlyr
emi
ndst
heent
ir
e
execut
ivet
hatt
hei
rexecut
ivepowerder
ivesf
rom t
hepeopl
eandi
sequal
l
ysubj
ectt
o
const
it
uti
onal
i
sm wher
eby
,the powermustbe exer
cised i
n accor
dance wi
tht
he
14
Const
it
uti
on. The chapt
erf
urt
herdi
rect
sthe ent
ir
e Execut
ivet
o exer
cise t
hei
r
execut
iveaut
hor
it
iesi
namannercompat
ibl
ewi
tht
hepr
inci
pleofser
vicet
othepeopl
e
15
ofKeny
a,and f
ort
hei
rwel
l
-bei
ng and benef
it
. The composi
ti
on oft
he nat
ional
16
execut
ivei
scl
ear
lysetoutunderAr
ti
cle129oft
heConst
it
uti
on asr
eadt
oget
herwi
th
17
Ar
ti
cle152. Thedut
iesandr
esponsi
bil
i
tiesoft
hePr
esi
dentar
esetoutunderAr
ti
cles
131and132.ThePr
esi
denti
sunderast
ri
ctobl
i
gat
iont
orespect
,uphol
dandsaf
eguar
d
18
t
heConst
it
uti
onandt
hesov
erei
gnt
yoft ci
heRepubl
i nt
er-
ali
a. Theobl
i
gat
ionsoft
he
Cabi
netar
eal
sowel
lst
atedunderAr
ti
cle153wher
east
hedut
iesoft
heAt
tor
ney
Gener
alar
especi
fi
edunderAr
ti
cle156(
4).

Chapt
ert
enoft
heConst
it
uti
ondecl
arest
hatj
udi
cialaut
hor
it
yisder
ivedf
rom t
he
peopl
eandshal
lbeexer
cisedbyt
heCour
tsandt
ri
bunal
sest
abl
i
shedby
/undert
he
19
Const
it
uti
on. Chapt
er10 r
e-emphasi
zest
hedoct
ri
neofsepar
ati
onofpower
sby
decl
ari
ngt
hati
ntheexer
ciseofj
udi
cialaut
hor
it
y,t
hej
udi
ciar
yshal
lbesubj
ectonl
yto
t
heConst
it
uti
onandt
hel
awandshal
lnotbesubj
ectt
othecont
rolordi
rect
ionofany
20
per
sonoraut
hor
it
y.

Thepr
ovi
sionsofChapt
ers8,
9and10j
ust
if
ytheasser
ti
ont
hatt
heKeny
anConst
it
uti
on
pr
ovi
desf
ort
hehor
izont
alsepar
ati
onofpower
s.Asi
l
lust
rat
edabov
e,t
houghi
na
summar
yfor
m,t
hese chapt
ers setout
-i
nver
y expl
i
citt
erms-
the di
ff
erentr
oles
del
egat
edt
othet
hreear
msofGov
ernment
.TheCour nMumoMat
tofAppeali emuv
Tr
ust
edSoci
etyofHumanRi
ght
sAl
li
ance&5ot
her
stookcogni
zanceoft
hesepar
ati
on
ofpower
sdoct
ri
neundert
henewConst
it
uti
oni
nthef
oll
owi ds:“
ngwor Iti
snoti
ndoubt
t
hatt
hedoct
ri
neofsepar
ati
onofpower
sisaf
eat
ureofourconst
it
uti
onaldesi
gnanda

14
Ar
ti
cle129(
1).
15
Ar
ti
cle129(
2).
16
Ar
ti
cle130(
1).
17
Ar
ti
cle152(
1).
18
Ar
ti
cle131(
2)(a-
b).
19
Ar
ti
cle159(
1).
20
Ar
ti
cle160(
1).

Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3695999

 21
per
-commi
tmenti
nourconst
it
uti
onaledi
fi
ce…”

I
tisal
soi
mper
ati
vet
o not
ethatt
hepr
inci
pleofConst
it
uti
onal
i
sm per
meat
est
he
del
egat
ionofsov
erei
gnpowert
othet
hreeSt
ateor
gans.Const
it
uti
onal
i
sm i
sthear
tof
22
l
i
mit
inggov
ernment wher
ebyt
hegov
ernmentI
sal
sosubj
ectt
orest
rai
nti
nthei
nter
est
23
oft
heor
dinar
ymember
soft
hecommuni
ty. Thi
scanbeachi
evedbyr
equi
ri
ngt
he
St
ateor
ganst
ocompl
ywi
tht
hev
ari
ousl
awst
hatst
ipul
atepower
sandl
i
mit
ati
onsof
24 25
t
hev
ari
ousar
msoft
hegov
ernment
, whi
chi
nthi
scasei
stheConst
it
uti
on.

TheConf
li
ctbet
weent
heor
yandpr
act
icei
nKeny
a

I
nor
dert
oav
ertt
yrannyandoppr
essi
oni
nanymat
uredemocr
acy
,separ
ati
onofpower
s
bet
weent
het
hreeor
gansofgov
ernmentoughtt
obei
mpl
ement
edt
othel
att
er.Thi
s
doct
ri
nepl
aysav
eryf
undament
alr
olei
nensur
ingt
hatpoweri
snotconcent
rat
edi
none
hand.I
tsr
ati
onal
ewasexpr
essedsucci
nct
lybyMont
esqui
eui
nthef
oll
owi
ngt
erms:

“
whent
hel
egi
slat
iveandexecut
ivepowerar
euni
tedi
nthesameper
son,
ori
nthesame
bodyofmagi
str
ates,
ther
ecanbenol
i
ber
ty…t
her
eisnol
i
ber
tyi
fthepower
sofj
udgi
ngi
s
notsepar
atedf
rom t
hel
egi
slat
iveandexecut
ive…t
her
ewoul
dbeanendt
oev
ery
thi
ng,
if
26
t
hesamemanort
hesamebody
…wer
etoexer
ciset
hoset
hreepower
s.”

Pr
act
ical
l
y,t
he i
mpl
ement
ati
on ofser
rat
ion ofpower
s shoul
d be gui
ded byf
our
pr
inci
plesasenv
isi
onedbyMont
esqui
eu:Thepr
inci
pleofTr
iasPol
it
ica wher
ebya
f
ormaldi
sti
nct
ionshoul
dbedr
awnbet
weent
het
hreear
msofgov
ernment
;thepr
inci
ple
ofsepar
ati
onper
sonneli
nwhi
chnost
ateof
fi
cialshoul
dser
vei
ninmor
ethanone
st
ateor
ganatt
hesameper
iod;t
hepr
inci
pleofsepar
ati
onoff
unct
ionswher
ebyev
ery
or
ganofst
ateaut
hor
it
yshoul
dbeent
rust
edwi
thi
tsappr
opr
iat
efunct
ionsonl
y;andt
he
pr
inci
pleofchecksandbal
ancewher
ebyeachst
ateor
gani
sent
rust
edwi
thspeci
al

21
MumoMat emuvTr ustedSoci
etyofHumanRi ght
sAlli
ance&5Ot hers(2012),Civ
ilAppealNo.290of
2012.
22
Morr i
sMbondeny iandOsogoAmbani ,TheNew Const i
tutionofKeny a.Princi
ples,Governmentand
HumanRi ght
s(LawAf ri
ca2012).
23
JacktonB.Oj wang,Constit
uti
onalDev el
opmentinKeny a:Insti
tuti
onalAdaptationandSoci alChange
(ActsPr ess,1997)13.
24
Jour nalofGlobalAf
fair
sandPubl i
cPol i
cyVolume1,No.1, 2011, p.3.
25
TheConst i
tuti
onofKeny a,
2010.
26
Mont esqui
e,Charl
esdeSecondant ,baronde.TheSpir
itoftheLaws( c.
1748).Translat
edandedi tedby
AnneCohl er,
BasiaMill
er,andHarol
dSt one.(Cambri
dgeUniversit
yPr ess1989).

Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3695999

 27
power
sdesi
gnedt
okeepacheckont
heexer
ciseoff
unct
ionsbyt
heot
her
s.

Thi
sst
udyopi
nest
hatt
her
ehasbeenani
ndi
sci
pli
neappr
oacht
oimpl
ement
ati
onof
‘
separ
ati
onpower
s’i
nthepost2010er
a.Wher
east
hepr
inci
pleoft
ri
aspol
i
ticai
snoti
n
i
ssue-
since t
he Const
it
uti
on dr
aws a cl
eardi
sti
nct
ion bet
ween t
he t
hree ar
ms of
gov
ernment
-thei
mpl
ement
ati
onoft
hepr
inci
plesofsepar
ati
onoff
unct
ionsandchecks
andbal
ancehasconst
ant
lyel
opedourgr
ip.

i
. Thr
eat
stoJudi
cialI
ndependence

“
Ani
ndependentj
udi
ciar
ypl
aysapi
vot
alr
olei
nthesoci
ety
.Itpr
otect
smi
nor
it
iesf
rom
domi
nantsoci
algr
oups.I
tpr
event
sthecent
ersofpowert
oinf
luenceandobt
ainundue
adv
ant
agesf
rom t
hecour
ts.Onl
yani
ndependentj
udi
ciar
ycanpr
otectsoci
etyf
rom
28
ar
bit
rar
yst
ateact
ionanduncheckedpr
ivat
epower
.”

TomanyKeny
anst
hewor
ds“
Weshal
lrev
isi
t!
”pai
ntani
magi
nat
ionorexpect
ati
onof
v
engeancet
obeexact
edupont
heJudi
ciar
y.Thesewor
dswer
espokeni
nthenot
-so-
di
stantpastbyt
hepr
esi a29 andspar
dentofKeny kednat
ionwi
decont
rov
ersyf
oll
owi
ng
t
henul
l
ifi
cat
ionoft
he2017Pr
esi
dent
ialel
ect
ionbyt
heSupr
emeCour
t.ManyKeny
ans
bel
i
eved-
andst
il
ldo-
thatexecut
ivewasembar
kingonaj
our
neyt
ofr
ust
rat
ethej
udi
ciar
y.
Thi
sst
udywi
l
lhi
ghl
i
ghtsomeoft
het
hreat
sthathav
efacedt
heJudi
ciar
ytot
heext
ent
oft
hreat
eni
ngi
tsi
ndependenceandi
nthel
ongr
ununder
minet
hesepar
ati
onofpower
s.

Fort
hepastf
ivey
ear
sthej
udi
ciar
yhasbeenexper
ienci
ngbudget
arysl
asheswhi
chi
n
t
urnpar
aly
zest
her
ightt
oaccessj
ust
iceandunder
minest
hei
ndependenceoft
he
Judi
ciar
y.Fori
nst
ance,i
n 2015,member
s ofpar
li
amentt
hreat
ened t
o under
take
budget
arycut
saf
tert
hecour
trul
edt
hatt
heConst
it
uti
onalDev
elopmentFundwas
30
unconst
it
uti
onal
. I
n2017,t
hej
udi
ciar
yandanumberofi
ndependentof
fi
cesand
const
it
uti
onalcommi
ssi
onsf
aced budgetcut
sast
hegov
ernmentsoughtt
orai
se
moneyf
ort
hef
reshpr
esi
dent
ialel
ect
ionandenhancedf
reedaysecondar
yeducat
ion.

27
Prof
essorVile,Constit
uti
onali
sm andt heSepar ati
onofPower s( 2nd EdnIndi
anapol
i
s,Li
bertyFund
1998)13.
28
Dr.Franzi
ska,Dr .MonicaandAi shwar y aNatarajan,“Judi
cialIndependenceunderThreat?
”Gl obal
Conf er
enceinStrasbourg,December5th-
6th,2018Conf erenceReport,p.6.
29
WesleyKipng’enoh,‘WeShallRevisit
-Pr esi
dentUhur uKeny att
ai nscat hi
ngattackonChiefJustice
Dav i
dMar agaandSupr emeCour t
’TheSt andard,(2ndSeptember,2017) .
30
Insti
tut
eofSoci alAccount
abil
it
y&anot hervNat ionalAssembl y&4ot her s[
2015]eKLR.

Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3695999

I
n2018,t
hemedi
cali
nsur
ancecov
erf
oral
ljudgesandi
tsempl
oyeeswassuspended
ov
eri
nsuf
fi
ciencyoff
unds.I
nthef
inanci
aly
ear2018/
2019,t
heJudi
ciar
yhadbeen
al
l
ocat
edKshs17.
3bi
l
li
onbutwasf
urt
hersl
asheddownt
oSh.14.
5bi
l
li
ont
hrought
he
31
Appr
opr
iat
ion Act
. I
nsuf
fi
cientf
undi
ng oft
he j
udi
ciar
yisat
hreatt
othe ent
ir
e
f
unct
ioni
ngoft
heJudi
ciar
y.

TheJudi
ciar
yhasal
sof
aceddel
i
ber
ateunder
-st
aff
ingwhi
chpar
aly
sest
hedi
schar
geof
i
tsconst
it
uti
onalmandat
es.Ther
ehasbeenadel
ayf
ormor
ethanhal
fay
eari
nthe
appoi
ntmentof41j
udgeswhower
enomi
nat
edbyt
heJudi
cialSer
viceCommi
ssi
ont
o
ser
vei
ntheAppel
l
ateCour
ts,t
heEnv
ironmentandLandsCour
tandt
heEmpl
oyment
andLaborRel
ati
onsCour
t.Thedel
ayhaspr
imar
il
ybeenbasedonal
l
egedi
ssuesof
32
i
ntegr
it
ywhi
cht
heNat
ionalI
ntel
l
igenceSer
vicef
ail
edt
odi
scl
ose. Thi
spr
olonged
del
ayoccasi
onedt
hei
nst
it
uti
onofacasebef
oret
heHi
ghCour
tatNai
robiseeki
ngt
o
r
esol
vet
hest
alemat
e.I
nthei
rwi
sdom,JudgesL.A.Achode,J.A.MakauandE.
C.
Mwi
ta made a decl
arat
ion t
hatt
he Pr
esi
denti
s const
it
uti
onal
l
y bound by t
he
r
ecommendat
ionoft
heJSCandt
hatt
hef
ail
uret
omaket
heappoi
ntment
sisav
iol
ati
on
33
oft
heConst
it
uti
onandt
heJudi
cialSer
viceAct
, or
der
swhi
cht
hePr
esi
denthas
34
hi
ther
tof
ail
edt
ocompl
ywi
th.

Under
-st
aff
ingoft
heJudi
ciar
yisanExecut
ive‘
weapon’
fashi
onedagai
nstt
heJudi
ciar
y
f
orpur
posesofunder
mini
ngi
tsi
ndependence.TheExecut
ivehaspushedt
hej
udi
ciar
y
t
oit
sbr
eaki
ngpoi
nt,causi
ngt
hej
udi
ciar
ytobegandl
amentf
ori
tsconst
it
uti
onal
l
y
guar
ant
eedr
ight
s.Thi
sisagr
ossdi
sregar
doft
hedoct
ri
neofsepar
ati
onofpower
s.

TheJudi
ciar
yhasal
so wi
tnessedbl
atantv
iol
ati
onofcour
tor
der
sthatdi
rect
lyor
i
ndi
rect
lyr
elat
etoexecut
iveact
ionsanddeci
sions.TheExecut
ivedi
sregar
dedt
he
or
der
sofat
hree-
benchj
udgei
nthecaseofAdr
ianKamot
hoNj
engavAG;JSC&2

31
Jemi mahMueni ,‘Judi
ciar
ybudgetcutswil
lnegati
v elyaff
ectjust
icedel
iv
ery -I
CJKenya’
,Capit
alFM,(3rd
August ,2018).
32
MaureenKekah,‘ HighCourtfault
sUhuruoverdel ayinappointi
ngjudges’,Nati
onAfri
ca,(
Wednesday ,
18thMar ch,2020).
33
Adr
ianKamot hoNjengav .Att
orneyGener
al;JudicialServ
iceCommi ssi
on&2ot her
s,peti
ti
onNo.369
of2019eKLR, para.159.
34
MaureenKakah, ‘Kenya:MaragaTell
sKenyattatoAppoi nt41JudgesPr oposedbyJSCWi thoutDel
ay ’
,
TheNat ion,(8June2020) .

Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3695999

ot s35 i
her nwhi
cht
heCour
tdecl
aredt
hatt
hePr
esi
denti
sconst
it
uti
onal
l
yboundby
r
ecommendat
ionsoft
heJSCandshoul
dther
efor
eappoi
ntt
he41nomi
nat
edJudgest
o
t
hei
rnew posi
ti
ons.Theor
der
soft
heCour
tinMi
gunaMi
gunavFr
edMat
iang’
i&6
ot s36 r
her egar
dingt
heci
ti
zenshi
pst
atusofMi
gunaMi
gunawer
eal
sodi
sregar
ded.The
execut
iveper
pet
uat
edt
heconf
iscat
ionofhi
spasspor
tanddeni
edhi
mret
urnt
oKeny
a.

Hundr
edsoff
ami
l
iesr
esi
dingatKar
iobangii
nNai
robiwer
eal
sol
efthomel
essaf
tert
he
gov
ernmentdemol
i
shedt
hei
rhouses.Thedemol
i
tionswer
econduct
edi
ndi
sregar
dof
37
t
heCour
tor
der
swhi
chst
oppedt
hedemol
i
tionsunt
ilt
hemat
teri
shear
d. Fur
ther
,in
Judi
cialSer
viceCommi
ssi
onvSpeakeroft
heNat
ionalAssembl
y&8ot s38 t
her he
Speakeroft
heNat
ional
l
yAssembl
ydi
sobey
edacour
tor
deronOct
ober30,
2013whi
ch
st
oppedPar
li
amentf
rom debat
ingorr
ecommendi
ngt
her
emov
alofsi
xcommi
ssi
oner
s
f
rom t
heJudi
cialSer
viceCommi
ssi
on.RespectofCour
tor
der
showev
erdi
sagr
eeabl
e
39
onemayf
indt
hem i
sacar
dinal
tenantoft
heRul
eofLaw.

Not
abl
y,t
her
ewer
eal
soef
for
tsadt
hreat
sbyPar
li
amentt
odi
sbandt
heJSCongr
ounds
t
hatt
heJSChadunf
air
lydi
smi
ssedt
hef
ormerChi
efRegi
str
ar.Thi
swasaf
tert
heJSC
r
efusedt
oappearbef
oret
hePar
li
ament
aryCommi
tt
eet
orespondt
otheal
l
egedof
40
‘
unf
airdi
smi
ssal
. ThePar
li
ament
aryt
hreatwasbl
i
ndt
othef
actt
hatt
heJSCi
stasked
wi
thpr
omot
ingandf
aci
l
itat
ingt
hei
ndependenceandaccount
abi
l
ityoft
hej
udi
ciar
yand
41
t
heef
fi
cient
,ef
fect
iveandt
ranspar
entadmi
nist
rat
ionofj
ust
ice.

i
i. Thr
eat
stoPar
li
ament
aryI
ndependence

“
Ani
ndi
spensabl
etoolofani
mper
ialpr
esi
dencyi
sthecont
roloft
hei
nst
rument
sof
42
st
atev
iol
ence.
”

35
Adr ianKamot ho’
scase, supranote33.
36
MigunaMi gunavFr edMat i
ang’
i&6ot hers;KenyaNat i
onalCommi ssi
ononHumanRi ghts( I
nter
est
ed
Par t
y)[ 2018]eKLR.
37
SusanMuhi ndi,‘
Courthaltsevi
cti
onofKar iobangir
esidentsbygov ernment’TheSt
, ar(15May2020) .
38
Judi cialServi
ceCommi ssionvs.Speakeroft heNationalAssembly&8ot her
s,Peti
ti
on518of2014.
39
Ibid.
40
Kbat hiA.Gat hit
u,‘Separati
onofPower sUndert he2010Const ituti
on:AnAnal y
sisoft heEmer gi
ng
Tensi onsbet weenPar li
amentandt heJudiciary’MastersThesisUniversit
yofNairobi
,(October2016)54.
41
Const i
tuti
onofKeny a2010, Arti
cle172(1).
42
Wai kwaWany oi
ke,‘TheRev enueAl l
ocationFormul aDebat e:HailYet heConst i
tut
ion!’(27August,
2020) .

Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3695999

The Keny
an Par
li
amenti
s an i
ndependentar
m ofgov
ernmentt
asked wi
tht
he
43
r
epr
esent
ati
onoft
hepeopl
e’
swi
l
landexer
cisi
ngt
hei
rsov
erei
gnt
y. Howev
er,t
he
Execut
ivehas,i
nsev
erali
nst
ances,encr
oachedont
hedut
iesbest
owedupont
het
wo
housesofPar
li
amentt
huscast
ingdoubt
sast
owhet
herPar
li
amenthasgr
ipofi
ts
Const
it
uti
onal
independenceori
fithasbeenr
educedt
oanExecut
ivepuppet
.

Onenot
abl
eint
erf
erencei
ncl
udest
her
ecentdebat
eregar
dingt
het
hir
dgener
ati
onal
r
evenueshar
ingf
ormul
ae.TheSenat
ehashi
ther
tof
ail
edt
omakeadeci
sionont
he
cont
rov
ersi
alt
hir
dbasi
sofshar
ingr
evenueamongcount
ies.TheSpeakerhasov
erand
agai
nadj
our
nedt
hesi
tt
ingoft
heHouseassenat
orshaggl
edov
erpr
ocedur
ali
ssues.As
amat
teroff
actt
heheat
eddebat
eatt
imesgener
atedi
ntonamecal
l
ing,j
eer
s,heckl
i
ng
44
andet
hni
csl
urs.

Thedebat
ehasspar
kedcont
rov
ersyr
egar
dingt
heExecut
ive’
srol
eint
heent
ir
epr
ocess.
Ther
eisasol
i
dreasont
obel
i
evet
hatt
heExecut
ivehaspl
acedt
heSenat
eundersi
ege
andwant
stof
orcei
tsdeci
siont
obet
hedeci
sionoft
hesenat
ors.Thi
sisbut
tressedby
t
hef
actt
hatt
hreesenat
orsr
epr
esent
ingKakamega,
BometandSambur
ucount
ieswer
e
ar
rest
edont
hesamedayt
heywer
eexpect
edt
ocastt
hei
rvot
eont
hecont
rov
ersi
al
45
f
ormul
aandl
aterr
eleasedwi
thoutchar
ges. Thi
sisabl
atantdi
sregar
doft
hef
actt
hat
t
heSenat
erepr
esent
sthecount
ies,andser
vest
opr
otectt
hei
nter
est
soft
hecount
ies
46
andt
hei
rgov
ernment
s. Respectf
orsepar
ati
onofpower
sdemandst
hatt
heexecut
ive
shoul
dal
l
owt
hesenat
etodi
schar
gei
tsmandat
eswi
thouti
nter
fer
enceandr
espectt
he
out
comes.

Thei
mpeachmentofGov
ernor
shasal
sospar
kedcont
rov
ersyov
ert
heappl
i
cat
ionof
doubl
est
andar
ds.Oncet
wo-
thi
rdsoft
heMember
sofCount
yAssembl
yvot
esi
nfav
or
47
ofi
mpeachmentofi
tsGov
ernor
, t
heSenat
ethenmov
esi
ntoi
nvest
igat
ethechar
ges
agai
nstt
heGov
ernor
.Ift
hechar
gesar
esubst
ant
iat
ed,t
heSenat
eist
henr
equi
redt
o

43
Const i
tuti
onofKeny a2010, Arti
cle94(
2).
44
Ibrahim Oruko,‘
Senatefail
st oagreeoncount
yrevenueshari
ngfor
mula,
agai
n’Nat
, i
on(Wednesday,12
August ,2020).
45
I
brahim Oruko,‘
Senatef ai
lst oagreeoncountyr
ev enueshar
ingf
ormul
a,agai
n’,Nati
on(Tuesday
,18
August ,2020).
46
Const i
tuti
onofKeny a2010, Arti
cle96(
1).
47
Ibi
d, Art
icl
e181.

Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3695999

 48
v
oteonwhet
hert
ouphol
dthei
mpeachmentornot
.

Dur
ingt
hei
mpeachmentoft
hef
ormerKi
ambuGov
ernor(
Fer
dinandWai
ti
tu)sev
eral
obj
ect
ionsr
egar
dingpr
ocedur
ali
l
legal
i
tieswer
erai
sedbyhi
slawy
erst
onoav
ail
.The
l
awy
ersobj
ect
edt
hef
air
nessoft
hei
mpeachmentmot
ionatt
heCount
yAssembl
y
st
ati
ngt
hatt
heAssembl
ydi
dnotmeett
het
wo-
thi
rdst
hreshol
dinaddi
ti
ont
othef
act
t
hatt
heSenat
edi
dnotconv
enei
nti
measr
equi
redbyt
hel
aw.Regar
dlessoft
he
av
ail
abi
l
ityofev
idencei
nsuppor
toft
heseobj
ect
ions,
thei
mpeachmentpr
oceededt
hus
49
occasi
oni
ng Fer
dinand’
s oust
er f
rom of
fi
ce. Thi
s can be compar
ed t
o t
he
i
mpeachmentmot
ionagai
nstKi
ri
nyaga’
sGov
ernor(
AnneWai
gur
u)whi
chwashear
dby
aSpeci
alCommi
tt
eeoft
heSenat
e.Day
sbef
oret
hemat
terwashear
dther
ewasa
heat
eddebat
ebet
weenSenat
orsr
egar
dinghowt
hechar
gesshoul
dbehear
d-ei
therbya
si
tt
ingoft
hewhol
eHouseorbyaSpeci
alCommi
tt
eeoft
heSenat
e.Lat
er,El
gey
o
Mar
akwetSenat
orconf
ident
lyst
atedt
hatt
heout
comeoft
hewhol
eissuehadal
ready
beendet
ermi
nedandt
heef
for
tsoft
heMCA’
stoi
mpeachWai
gur
uwoul
dnotbearf
rui
ts.
Hecl
aimedt
hatt
heSenat
ehadsani
ti
zedandcl
ear
edheGov
ernorev
enbef
oret
he
50
char
geswer
ehear
danddet
ermi
ned. Thest
atementofEl
gey
oMar
kawet
’sSenat
or
cannotbet
reat
edasamer
esl
i
poft
het
ongue.I
tshoul
drat
herbet
r edasapr
eat ima
f
aci
eindi
cat
ionofi
nter
fer
encesi
nthedut
iesandbusi
nessoft
heSenat
e.

Concl
usi
onandSuggest
ionsf
orRef
orms

Someschol
arsasser
tedi
nthepastt
hatAf
ri
cancount
ri
esar
e“gr
aves”ofbeaut
if
ul
const
it
uti
onswhi
chwhenpr
omul
gat
ed,r
aiset
hespi
ri
tsoft
heci
ti
zensbutal
way
s
51
di
sappoi
ntt
hewor
ldast
heyf
ailt
obr
ingt
heexpect
edr
efor
ms. Thi
sst
atementmay
notbeat
ruer
efl
ect
ionofal
lAf
ri
canSt
atesbuti
tref
lect
sther
eal
i
tyf
aci
ngmanySt
ates
i
ncl
udi
ngKeny
a.

OurConst
it
uti
onhasr
epeat
edl
ybeenbr
andedt
hemostpr
ogr
essi
veConst
it
uti
oni
nthe

48
Geor geGi thi
nji,
‘ThePr ocesstoImpeachaCount yGov ernor’,
(20August,2020) .
49
Chr
ist opherOwuor ,‘Wai t
it
uur gesSenatetoaccordhi mf airheari
nginoust ercase’,Peopl
eDaily(29
January , 2020).
50
VincentKej i
tan,‘
Mur komen’sapologytoKir
inyagaresidents’St
, andardmedia( 17thJune,
2020).
51
Brendah Ar oko, ‘ The Chal l
enges of Const it
utionali
sm i n Keny a’ (Kenyapl
ex, 2012)
https:
//www. kenyaplex.com/resources/
6523-
the-chal
lenges-of-const
it
uti
onali
sm- in-
kenya.
aspxaccessed
16Sept ember2020.

Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3695999

 52
wor
ld, per
hapsbasedoni
tspr
ogr
essi
vei
deal
sandi
npar
ti
cul
ar,i
tsadv
ocacyf
or
humanr
ight
sandf
reedoms,
dev
olut
ionandt
heSepar
ati
onofpower
s.Regar
dlessofi
ts
beaut
if
ult
ext
,thei
mpl
ement
ati
onofsev
eralpr
inci
plesenshr
inedt
her
einhasbeen
ar
duous.The‘
separ
ati
onofpower
s’i
soneoft
hedoct
ri
net
hati
syett
obei
mpl
ement
ed
t
othel
att
er.Thi
sst
udyhol
dst
hatt
hedel
ayedi
mpl
ement
ati
onoft
hisdoct
ri
nei
snott
o
bebl
amedonl
ackofunder
standi
ngbutsol
elyonobsessi
onwi
thpowerorwhatot
her
schol
ars woul
dref
ert
o as ‘
i
mper
ialPr
esi
dency
.Howev
er,I
’
m opt
imi
sti
cthatt
he
i
mpl
ement
ati
onof‘
separ
ati
onofpower
s’wi
l
lfacebet
terday
sahead.

Pr
obl
emsf
aci
ngaSt
ateshoul
dnotal
way
sbebl
amedongapsexi
stenti
ntheLaws.We
canonl
ybl
amet
hegapsi
fpr
act
icalef
for
ttoadher
etot
heexi
stentl
aw st
il
lpr
esent
chal
l
enges.Ont
hebasi
soft
hef
oregoi
ng,t
hest
udyof
fer
sthef
oll
owi
ngsuggest
ionf
or
r
efor
msai
medati
mpr
ovi
ngt
her
espectf
ort
hedoct
ri
neofsepar
ati
onofpower
sand
t
her
uleofl
awi
ngener
al:

i
. Keny
ansshoul
ddet
acht
hemsel
vesf
rom maki
ngpol
i
ticalchoi
cesonat
ri
bal
basi
sandembar
konchoosi
ngl
eader
swhor
espectt
her
uleofl
awandgood
gov
ernance.

i
i
. Al
lst
ateor
gansi
ncl
udi
ngt
heExecut
iveshoul
drespectt
henat
ionalv
alues
and pr
inci
ples ofgov
ernance,and i
n par
ti
cul
art
he r
ule ofl
aw,good
gov
ernance,
transpar
encyandaccount
abi
l
ity
.

52
TheConst
it
uti
onofKeny
a,2010.

Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3695999