Kenyan court backs Kiswahili translator in landmark case for businessman Enock Aura
via Tuko4 min read
A Nairobi businessman, Enock Aura, has secured a legal win in his petition to compel the judiciary to conduct court proceedings in Kiswahili. The constitutional court confirmed that a translator will be available during court proceedings in this case. Aura, through lawyer Harrison Kinyanjui, sued Chief Justice Martha Koome and Attorney General Dorcas Oduor for allegedly failing to ensure courts use Kiswahili, despite its constitutional status as a national and official language. The petition, which is the first in judicial history to be fully drafted in Kiswahili, has garnered significant interest. Lawyer Kinyanjui made his submissions in Kiswahili and requested a court translator, arguing that respondents were unable to express themselves fluently in the language, and that a translator is necessary to uphold the petitioner's right to a fair hearing. Aura's amended petition also proposes that no advocate should receive a practicing certificate without three Continuous Legal Education points in Kiswahili training and seeks to compel advocates to undertake continuous legal education in Kiswahili. Additionally, Aura challenges the judiciary's move to online court proceedings, arguing that electronic platforms are foreign-owned and controlled, constituting digital neocolonialism. He seeks a declaration that online court rules are unconstitutional, as they were introduced unilaterally without public consultation. Aura wants all cases to default to open court proceedings unless a p
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Archbishop Gervas John Nyaisonga of the Archdiocese of Mbeya, Tanzania, has been elected President of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa AMECEA at its 21st Plenary Assembly in Nairobi. The assembly, hosted by the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops, concluded with a focus on AMECEA's synodal journey with young people, identifying youth as a shared pastoral priority for the next four years. Archbishop Nyaisonga accepted the role with a call for unity, prayer, and a commitment to working with young people across the region. He emphasized that implementing the assembly's resolutions is a shared responsibility among every Episcopal Conference, the AMECEA secretariat, and all baptized members. Nyaisonga highlighted the moving testimonies of young delegates during the assembly, stating that the church owes them a response measured in action. The assembly closed with a renewed commitment to synodality, evangelization, and accompanying young people throughout Eastern Africa.
Governor Johnson Sakaja has announced a plan to establish a specialized Nairobi Metropolitan Police Unit, with 2,500 officers from the Nairobi County Inspectorate and the National Police Service undergoing intensive training. The initiative aims to enhance security patrols and rapid response across Nairobi, shifting focus from traffic enforcement. The training will be tailored to the city's unique policing needs, as Nairobi's daytime population exceeds seven million people. Kamukunji Police Station will be transformed into the unit's headquarters, undergoing rehabilitation and expansion. Additionally, Nairobi will implement an integrated citywide CCTV surveillance network linked to a new Traffic Management Centre at City Cabanas, which will serve as the city鈥檚 digital command center, incorporating AI-powered surveillance systems, police monitoring, and automated traffic enforcement. This system will also integrate private CCTV cameras to strengthen crime detection and emergency response. Governor Sakaja mentioned benchmarking visits to New York and London to study modern metropolitan policing models. These reforms are part of a cooperation agreement between the National and county governments to modernize Nairobi鈥檚 security infrastructure and enhance public safety.
Must ReadA video showing Nairobi senator Edwin Sifuna confronting armed police officers during the June 2024 demonstrations against the Finance Bill 2024 has re-emerged online. The footage, filmed outside parliament on June 25, 2024, captures Sifuna approaching officers who were firing at anti-Finance Bill protesters as youths stormed the building. Sifuna, visibly agitated, moved towards the officers and urged them to stop shooting. Security personnel pushed the senator back, but he continued engaging them and advocating for a ceasefire. Fellow political leaders attempted to hold him back, but Sifuna, also a practicing lawyer, refused to retreat. At one point, gunshots were audible nearby, and he flinched but did not withdraw. The clip has circulated anew during Sifuna's homecoming in Bungoma county as he seeks a leading position in Western Kenya politics. Kenyans sharing the video have praised his actions, citing it as evidence of his willingness to stand up for citizens under dangerous conditions, and using it to amplify calls for him to enter the 2027 presidential race. Sifuna's public standing gained momentum following his removal as ODM secretary general, which led to the Linda Mwananchi movement and its slogan, "Mimi ndio Sifuna," drawing thousands of supporters.