Kalonzo Urges Lawyers to Defend Democracy After Court Blocks Political Defections

Former Vice President Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka has urged Kenyan lawyers to take a leading role in protecting the country’s democratic institutions following a High Court ruling against political defections.

Speaking on 6 December at the Law Society of Kenya’s Lower Eastern Advocates Forum in Machakos, Kalonzo welcomed the judgment as a defining affirmation of voters’ authority. The case involved Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo and his deputy, who left the Jubilee Party for the United Democratic Alliance shortly after taking office in 2023.

Justices Ngaah, Chigiti, and Mugambi ruled that the defections were unlawful, a decision Musyoka said signalled that elected officials must honour the mandate they receive from citizens. Kalonzo, an advocate of the High Court, said the ruling helped restore public confidence in multiparty democracy and demonstrated that electoral mandates cannot be treated as negotiable.

He warned, however, that deeper threats continue to undermine the country’s democratic stability, including electoral malpractice, weak oversight, and rising political violence. Referring to the 27 November by-elections, he voiced concern over reported violence in Kasipul, where at least 15 people were killed.

He said the Director of Public Prosecutions has a constitutional obligation to begin investigations promptly, noting that inaction could push citizens to pursue private prosecutions, an option available in law but one that signals institutional failure when used. Kalonzo also urged lawyers to extend their impact beyond courtrooms by offering pro bono services, arguing that many Kenyans know their rights but lack the means to enforce them.

He encouraged advocates to maintain consistency and integrity in their public engagement, warning that online statements can have lasting consequences.
The event was attended by Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti and Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr.