Appellate Court Rejection Leaves Ruto Facing Nullification Risk Over 25-Member Cabinet

Former Laikipia Woman Representative Cate Waruguru has issued a stern warning to President William Ruto, urging the administration to immediately reconstitute the 25-member Cabinet to comply with the constitutional two-thirds gender rule or risk legal paralysis across state departments.

Waruguru’s warning follows the expiration of a 120-day High Court order issued on June 30, 2026, which declared the current Cabinet unconstitutional—noting it comprises 18 men and only seven women, falling short of the mandatory representation threshold required under Article 27(8).

The legal confrontation reached a critical point after the Court of Appeal rejected an urgent petition by Attorney General Dorcas Oduor seeking to freeze the High Court orders pending an appeal.

With the appellate court leaving the directive intact, civil society advocates, legal scholars, and political leaders have warned that all official decisions, policy ratifications, and budget approvals sanctioned by the non-compliant Cabinet are now vulnerable to individual legal challenges.

Waruguru stressed that ignoring judicial mandates undermines constitutional governance and alienates female voters ahead of the 2027 General Election.

The gender rule battle creates an immediate dilemma for President Ruto’s broad-based administration. Reconstituting the Cabinet to meet the constitutional requirement would necessitate dropping several male Cabinet Secretaries or expanding government structures—a move likely to spark political friction among coalition partners and broad-based political allies.

As women’s lobby groups and rights organizations prepare potential contempt proceedings, the administration faces mounting pressure to resolve the executive composition crisis.

What are your thoughts about this article? Share your reactions in the comment section and don’t forget to share and follow for more update

https://peopledaily.digital/inside-politics/cate-waruguru-warns-ruto-as-cabinet-faces-legal-battle-over-two-thirds-gender-rule

BigdNews feedback-opera-news-app@opera.com