In a landmark decision on constitutional boundaries, the High Court has struck down President William Ruto’s establishment of a national task force on police welfare.
Justice Lawrence Mugambi ruled that the President acted beyond his constitutional powers by unilaterally forming the 23-member task force, which was chaired by former Chief Justice David Maraga. The court declared both the task force and its outcomes unconstitutional and void.
While the content of the task force which was improving police welfare was widely seen as necessary, the court emphasized how it was done matters just as much as what was being done.
The ruling sets a critical precedent in a country where concerns about the growing influence of the Executive have been mounting. It also affirms the central role of legal checks and balances in public decision-making.
