Operation Linda Jamii on Tuesday, September 5, filed a petition at the Milimani Law Court, seeking orders to have President William Ruto withdraw the ‘mambo ni matatu’ declaration.

The petitioner has also asked the court to compel the President to apologize for making the utterances, that have been interpreted as threats to investors in the sugar sector.

The president has been sued through the Attorney General’s office, a few days after making the declaration.

In court documents, the lobby group argued that the utterances were interpreted as death threats by the President who is a symbol of national unity.

“The President’s comments if not retracted and an official unconditional apology proffered, will create a perception in Kenya that undermines judicial independence and will also see the rule of law disrespected without a recourse,” the group noted in court papers.

At the same time, Operation Linda Jamii noted that the challenges facing the sugar industry in Kenya needed urgent interventions, without threatening anyone.

Furthermore, the lobby group explained that the ‘mambo ni matatu’ remarks amount to an abuse of human rights as well as undermining the rule of law.

The lobby group also explained that they were taking the Attorney General to court because he is the legal advisor to the government.

“The Attorney General represents the government in court or in any other legal proceedings to which the National Government is a party to,” the lobby noted in court papers.

Reviving sugar industry

The President made the remarks a week ago during an official tour to the Western region.

He warned that cartels in the sugar industry were frustrating government efforts to revive Mumias Sugar Company.

The head of state said that individuals frustrating the government in reviving the sugar industry have only three options; to flee the country, go to jail, or go to heaven.

At the same time, the head of state clarified that the ‘mambo ni matatu’ declaration was not a threat to anybody.

The president insisted that he was only outlining exactly what the government plans to do in the fight against corruption.