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The High Court yesterday declined to temporarily suspend President William Ruto’s decision to appoint a judicial commission of inquiry to probe the Shakahola deaths.

Milimani High Court Judge Lawrence Mugambi rejected Azimio la Umoja coalition leader Raila Odinga’s application to issue conservatory orders suspending the President’s move to appoint the commission of inquiry pending the hearing of the case on May 22, 2023.

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The judge made the decision after the court was informed that the respondents in the petition including the President, the Attorney General, the Speaker of National Assembly, the Director of Publlic Prosecutions, Inspector General of Police, the National Intelligence Service, Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, Public Service Comission, The commission for Administrative Justice and Independent Police Oversight Authority were yet to file their responses to the lawsuit as earlier directed.

The judge further fixed the case to be heard on May 22, 2023 in open court.

In the petition, Raila argues that it is unconstitutional for President Ruto to appoint the Justice Jessie Lessit led commission on the Shakahola massacre to look into the matter.