Here is what you need to know to get up to speed with today’s happenings.
Verdict on conservatory orders
Impeached Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua will return to court on Thursday, October 31, 2024.
The three-judge bench will rule on whether to set aside orders that stopped Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki from being sworn in as the deputy president or extend it.
The ruling on the conservatory order is expected to be delivered starting at 2:30 pm.
Gachagua’s legal team had earlier appealed to the court to extend the conservatory orders to allow the impeachment hearing process to be heard to the conclusion.
Through his lawyers, Senior Counsel Paul Muite and John Khaminwa, Gachagua wants the court to find that Kenya’s Constitution offers both hope and promise and that the document is supreme.
In their submission, Gachagua’s legal representatives told the three-judge bench that Kenyans were not involved in the nomination process of Kindiki.
He further told the court he was condemned by the Senate unheard and urged the court to find that Kenya is not a Presidential or Legislative democracy but a constitutional democracy and that the constitution was never followed during his impeachment process.
However, Judges Eric Ogola, Antony Mrima and Freda Mugambi will decide on the conservatory orders on Thursday.
University strike
The striking university lecturers are expected to issue the way forward after the court ruled that their industrial action was unprotected.
The University Academic Staff Union (UASU) had earlier declared that the strike would go on until the government heeded their demands as stipulated in the 2012-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
Despite their hard stance, the Employment and Labour Court observed that the industrial action that began on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, was illegal, directing the government and lecturers to expedite negotiations pending a full hearing.
Lady Justice Agnes Nzei ordered the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) not to incite or call upon union members to participate in the unprotected strike.
“The strike called by the Respondent (UASU) on 29th October 2024 is hereby declared unprotected, and the Respondent and/or its officials are hereby restrained from calling on its members or inciting them to participate in the unprotected strike set to commence on 29th October 2024 or on any other dates, regarding matters which are the subject of negotiations,” she ordered.
Justice Nzei ordered all parties to return to the negotiation table in good faith and to fast-track negotiations as outlined in the Return-to-Work formula.
IMF disbursement
The country is expected to react after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Executive Board completed the review of Kenya’s economic programs, approving Ksh78 billion ($606 million) in combined disbursements.
The financing will support efforts to strengthen public finances and enhance resilience to climate shocks while protecting priority social spending.
“We recognize the complex balancing act Kenya faces: boosting domestic revenues to protect critical spending while meeting debt obligations.
“Our recent adjustments will reduce Kenya’s interest payments to the IMF, demonstrating our commitment to providing sustainable support. Improved governance and transparency remain essential to restore public trust in the effective use of public resources. We stand with Kenya on this journey, supporting crucial economic reforms and keeping the wellbeing of Kenyan citizens at the forefront,” IMF’s statement read in part.
