The High Court has directed the Attorney General to file responses within 14 days in the case where Ugandan opposition leader Col (Rtd) Dr. Kizza Besigye has sued Kenya over his deportation. The ruling was delivered on Monday during a compliance session after the State failed to respond on time.
Lawyer Marwa, representing the Attorney General, admitted that no responses had been filed despite proper service. He explained that the matter involved multiple offices and that letters seeking input for a joint response had not been answered. Marwa requested an extension of 21 days to allow more time.
Why did the court decline the Attorney General’s request?
Senior Counsel Martha Karua, appearing for Besigye, strongly opposed the request for more time. She pointed out that the respondents had been served on July 28 but had failed to enter appearance by September 29, two months later. “If you are inclined to grant them time, the State office must be cautioned. How do they take two months without responding?” she argued.
Karua also stressed the broader implications of the case, noting that it carried cross-border significance. She emphasized that colleagues had traveled from Uganda to attend proceedings because the deportation matter directly affects Besigye’s long-running political struggles and raises questions about regional security.
Justice Lawrence Mugambi ruled that the Attorney General already had sufficient time and declined to grant the 21 days requested. Instead, the court gave the State 14 days to file its responses.
The case continues to attract widespread attention as Besigye, alongside his aide Obed Lutale, challenges their deportation from Kenya in 2024. Observers say the outcome could have political and security ramifications across the region, given Besigye’s role as a leading opposition figure in Uganda.
By Lucky Anyanje
