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Kenya high court suspends anti-terror measures after opposition objections | Kenya high court suspends anti-terror measures after opposition objections |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Kenya’s high court has suspended some of the anti-terrorism measures signed into law two weeks ago by President Uhuru Kenyatta, saying objections raised by the opposition over their constitutionality should be settled by the judiciary. | Kenya’s high court has suspended some of the anti-terrorism measures signed into law two weeks ago by President Uhuru Kenyatta, saying objections raised by the opposition over their constitutionality should be settled by the judiciary. |
Kenyatta said when he signed the statute on 19 December that it did not go against the bill of rights or any provision of the constitution, but opposition groups have said the measures – which increase the time suspects can be held without charge to 360 days from 90 days – threaten civil liberties and free speech. | |
Kenyatta has faced mounting pressure to boost security after Somali al-Shabaab rebels killed 67 people in a Nairobi shopping mall in September 2013 and after frequent attacks in 2014. Last month, he replaced the interior minister and the police chief. | |
Issuing his ruling on Friday the judge, George Odunga, also criticised the manner in which the law was passed in parliament: opposition legislators threw books at the Speaker, shouted, chanted and sprinkled water over his deputy. | |
“I grant conservatory orders suspending the following clauses … pending the hearing and determination of these petitions,” Odunga said in his ruling, suspending eight clauses. | “I grant conservatory orders suspending the following clauses … pending the hearing and determination of these petitions,” Odunga said in his ruling, suspending eight clauses. |
The ruling was greeted with cheers and jubilation in the Nairobi courtroom by members of Kenya’s opposition coalition, which had filed the legal challenge, and its leader Raila Odinga. They punched the air, chanting: “A people united shall never be defeated.” | The ruling was greeted with cheers and jubilation in the Nairobi courtroom by members of Kenya’s opposition coalition, which had filed the legal challenge, and its leader Raila Odinga. They punched the air, chanting: “A people united shall never be defeated.” |