[2019] KECA 655 (KLR)

[2019] KECA 655 (KLR)

The Court of Appeal held that Parliament was under a constitutional obligation, pursuant to Articles 27(6), 27(8), and 81(b) of the Constitution, to enact legislation to implement the gender principle, and that the failure to do so within the stipulated period justified the High Court's orders of mandamus and...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2019] KECA 655 (KLR)
Parties
Appellant: Speaker Of The National Assembly; Respondent: Centre for Rights Education & Awareness; Respondent: Community Advocacy & Awareness Trust; Respondent: Kenya National Commission On Human Rights; Respondent: Speaker Of The Senate; Respondent: The Attorney General; Respondent: Kenya Human Rights Commission; Respondent: Law Society Of Kenya; Respondent: National Gender & Equality Commission
Court
Court of Appeal
Court Station
Court of Appeal at Nairobi
Jurisdiction
Kenya
Case Number
Civil Appeal 148 of 2017
Procedural Posture
Civil Appeal / Judgment
Outcome
appeal dismissed
Judges
PN Waki, SG Kairu, K M'Inoti
Legal Topics
Gender Equality, Affirmative Action, Parliamentary Obligations, Constitutional Interpretation, Bill of Rights, Public Interest Litigation
Source Language
en
Constitutional Law Civil Procedure Gender Equality Affirmative Action Parliamentary Obligations Constitutional Interpretation Bill of Rights Public Interest Litigation

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Summary, issues, holding and outcome

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Parties

Speaker Of The National Assembly

Appellant

Centre for Rights Education & Awareness

Respondent

Community Advocacy & Awareness Trust

Respondent

Kenya National Commission On Human Rights

Respondent

Speaker Of The Senate

Respondent

The Attorney General

Respondent

Kenya Human Rights Commission

Respondent

Law Society Of Kenya

Respondent

National Gender & Equality Commission

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Civil Appeal / Judgment

  1. 1 Whether Parliament has failed to enact legislation required to implement the constitutional gender principle within the stipulated period.
  2. 2 Whether the High Court was correct in issuing orders of mandamus and declarations against Parliament and the Attorney General for failure to enact such legislation.
  3. 3 Whether the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Speaker of the Senate are proper parties to be sued in such constitutional litigation.

Ratio Decidendi

The Court of Appeal held that Parliament was under a constitutional obligation, pursuant to Articles 27(6), 27(8), and 81(b) of the Constitution, to enact legislation to implement the gender principle, and that the failure to do so within the stipulated period justified the High Court's orders of mandamus and declarations. The Court rejected the argument that Article 81 was merely aspirational, emphasizing that the Constitution must be interpreted holistically and purposively. The Court found that the amendment to the Political Parties Act did not amount to implementation of the gender rule, as it was not gender-specific and did not guarantee compliance with the constitutional...

Court Disposition

appeal dismissed

Orders

  • The appeal is dismissed in its entirety.
  • Each party shall bear its own costs.