William Ruto, the deputy president, can now continue to get a government income without doing anything.
This comes after the High Court rejected a lawsuit calling for his dismissal due to alleged misconduct and neglect of duty.
In his decision, Justice Anthony Mrima stated that the petitioner, Mr. Michael Kirugia, had no right to ask for the court to remove Ruto from his position.
The judge pointed out that the Constitution’s provision for the Deputy President’s removal from office is a constitutional process.
Mrima asserts that the Constitution specifies a complex process for removing a Deputy President from office.
The petitioner’s case against the DP, in his opinion, was a false start.
“There are no issues for determination by this court in respect of the matter raised in the application. This court cannot, therefore, assume jurisdiction,” he said.
In the case, Kirungia claimed Ruto has abdicated his constitutional role as the principal assistant to the president and embarked on “self-assigned duties”.
He sought to have him removed from office because he is not performing the functions conferred by the constitution and any other functions of the President as the President may assign.
Ruto, however, countered that the lawsuit is politically driven and targeted toward the interests of a specific person.
The decision is a serious setback for former prime minister Raila Odinga and his Azimio cohorts, who have also accused Ruto of reneging on his obligations as the DP and pushed him to rule.
