[2019] KEHC 6803 (KLR)

[2019] KEHC 6803 (KLR)

The court found that the amendments to the Salaries and Remuneration Commission Act, which required nominating bodies to forward two names of opposite gender, introduced presidential nomination and National Assembly vetting, and allowed for resubmission of nominations, were unconstitutional as they contravened the...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2019] KEHC 6803 (KLR)
Parties
Applicant: Judicial Service Commission; Respondent: Attorney General; Respondent: Salaries and Remuneration Commission; Interested Party: Jacqueline Akinyi Okeyo Manani
Court
High Court
Court Station
High Court at Nairobi (Milimani Law Courts)
Jurisdiction
Kenya
Case Number
Petition 349 of 2018
Procedural Posture
Constitutional Petition / Judgment
Outcome
Petition allowed. Impugned statutory provisions declared unconstitutional. Mandamus issued for appointment of Interested Party. Costs to 1st Respondent.
Judges
JA Makau
Legal Topics
Constitutional Composition of Commissions, Public Participation, Separation of Powers, Appointment Procedures, Statutory Interpretation
Source Language
en
Constitutional Law Administrative Law Constitutional Composition of Commissions Public Participation Separation of Powers Appointment Procedures Statutory Interpretation

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Parties

Judicial Service Commission

Applicant

Attorney General

Respondent

Salaries and Remuneration Commission

Respondent

Jacqueline Akinyi Okeyo Manani

Interested Party

Procedural Posture

Constitutional Petition / Judgment

  1. 1 Whether the amendments to the Salaries and Remuneration Commission Act are constitutional.
  2. 2 Whether the amendments to the Salaries and Remuneration Commission Act apply retrospectively.
  3. 3 Whether there was adequate public participation in making amendments to the Salaries and Remuneration Commission Act.

Ratio Decidendi

The court found that the amendments to the Salaries and Remuneration Commission Act, which required nominating bodies to forward two names of opposite gender, introduced presidential nomination and National Assembly vetting, and allowed for resubmission of nominations, were unconstitutional as they contravened the clear provisions of Article 230(2)(b) of the Constitution. Article 230 provides for direct appointment by the President of one nominee from each listed body without further vetting or gender requirements. The court held that the impugned amendments could not apply retrospectively as they affected substantive rights and there was no clear legislative intent for retrospective...

Court Disposition

Petition allowed. Impugned statutory provisions declared unconstitutional. Mandamus issued for appointment of Interested Party. Costs to 1st Respondent.

Orders

  • Section 7(2) of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission Act declared unconstitutional, null and void.
  • Sections 7(10), (11), (12), and (13) of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission Act No. 10 of 2011 declared unconstitutional, null and void.