Ekuru Aukot asks court to disband Building Bridges team

Thirdway Alliance leader Ekuru Aukot has gone to court seeking to disband the Building Bridges’ Advisory Task Force arguing that it is a waste of public resources.

In a petition filed before the High Court, Dr Aukot through lawyer Elias Mutuma argued that the task force was established in contravention of principles governing public finance.

Further, he said that the agreement establishing the task force was between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Orange Democratic Movement leader Raila Odinga and cannot be enforced as a public cause.

Mr Aukot contends that there was no public participation conducted before the team was formed and that the task force usurps the roles of existing constitutional commissions as it purports to establish what allegedly ‘ails’ the country.

'CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES'

It is Mr Aukot’s argument that issues ailing the country have already been established through previous commissions, among them: Kennedy Kiliku Report of 1992, Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission of 2013, Ndung’u Report on Irregular and Illegal land allocation, Kriegler Report of 2008, Akiwumi Commission of Inquiry and the Ouko Commission of Inquiry of 2003.

He further stated that the existence of the Building Bridges team will sweep under the carpet atrocities which have been reported every election year and will institutionalise electoral offences, politically instigated ethnic antagonism and excuse impunity.

Mr Aukot has sued head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua, Attorney-General Paul Kihara and members of the task force, including joint secretaries Martin Kimani and Paul Mwangi, Dr Adams Oloo, Senator Amos Wako, Major (rtd) John Seei, Bishop Lawi Imathiu and Archbishop Zacheus Okoth among others.

VETTING

Mr Aukot said the members of the task force were not vetted to establish their competence and compliance with the Chapter Six of the Constitution on Leadership and Integrity.

“The decision to gazette the task force is unconstitutional, unlawful, a waste of taxpayers’ money and against public interest," said Mr Aukot.

He said that despite notification of his grievances, the government went ahead and operationalised the said task force without regard to the serious concerns raised he raised.

Mr Aukot has also questioned President Kenyatta's legal mandate to implement his shared objectives and agreement between him and his political opponent Mr Odinga.

"It is in the interest of justice that operations of the task force be put on hold pending determination of the case as its continued work will end up illegally utilising public funds which cannot be recovered," Mr Aukot said.