A judge just slammed the brakes on a major railway project thanks to a politician's lawsuit. The High Court issued orders stopping construction of the Ngong-Riruta line after Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah filed a constitutional petition. Justice Bahati Mwamuye halted Kenya Railways Corporation and several state agencies from continuing work on the project.
The court found the agencies failed to file required responses without a good excuse. Kenya Railways claimed a separate Nakuru court order blocking the use of private lawyers prevented their compliance. Their counsel argued this created a conflict, requesting more time for legal processes.
Omtatah's lawyer, Charles Kanjama, dismissed that reasoning, stating the agency has in-house counsel. He urged the court to maintain the status quo to preserve the case's core issues. The senator called the explanation a weak excuse for missing deadlines.
Justice Mwamuye granted the interim conservatory orders, freezing all project implementation and related spending. Further financial allocations outside approved budgets were also blocked. The ruling pauses all construction activity pending the petition's outcome.
The matter was adjourned with the orders remaining in effect. The legal challenge questions the project's legality and constitutionality. All activity must now wait for further judicial directions.
The court found the agencies failed to file required responses without a good excuse. Kenya Railways claimed a separate Nakuru court order blocking the use of private lawyers prevented their compliance. Their counsel argued this created a conflict, requesting more time for legal processes.
Omtatah's lawyer, Charles Kanjama, dismissed that reasoning, stating the agency has in-house counsel. He urged the court to maintain the status quo to preserve the case's core issues. The senator called the explanation a weak excuse for missing deadlines.
Justice Mwamuye granted the interim conservatory orders, freezing all project implementation and related spending. Further financial allocations outside approved budgets were also blocked. The ruling pauses all construction activity pending the petition's outcome.
The matter was adjourned with the orders remaining in effect. The legal challenge questions the project's legality and constitutionality. All activity must now wait for further judicial directions.
