A constitutional petition has been filed at the High Court challenging the use of State House for partisan political activities, with the petitioner seeking a declaration that such conduct violates the Constitution.
The case, lodged at the Constitutional and Human Rights Division of the High Court in Nairobi, was filed by lawyer Lempaa Suyianka, who argues that public officials have unlawfully used State resources to advance the political interests of the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
The petition names the Attorney General, the Comptroller of State House, the United Democratic Alliance, and President William Ruto, sued in his official capacity, as respondents.
In his filings, Suyianka asks the court to compel UDA to refund the State all costs incurred during political activities conducted at State House and State Lodges. He also wants the court to issue a permanent injunction barring all political parties from holding meetings, forums, or any political activities at the State House.
According to court documents, the petitioner argues that State House and State Lodges are national institutions reserved strictly for official State business and maintained using public funds approved by Parliament. He contends that using these facilities for party politics breaches constitutional safeguards designed to separate the State from political parties.
The petition details several political meetings allegedly held at State House between April 2025 and February 2026. These include engagements with regional political leaders, internal party meetings, and a UDA aspirants’ forum that reportedly drew thousands of party officials and members.
Suyianka maintains that these gatherings did not qualify as State functions. Instead, he argues, they were political party events involving party officials, aspirants, and elected leaders acting in their political capacities.
He further claims that State House facilities and resources, including security, staff, logistics, catering, and communication infrastructure were used during the meetings. Despite this, the petitioner says authorities have not disclosed the costs incurred or clarified whether UDA reimbursed the State.
The petition also accuses the Comptroller of State House of failing to account for public resources used during the events, a move the lawyer says violates constitutional principles of accountability and transparency.
According to the petitioner, allowing one political party to access State House for political activities gives it an unfair advantage over rival parties, weakens multiparty democracy, and blurs the constitutional line between the State and partisan politics.
The petition cites alleged breaches of multiple constitutional provisions, including Articles 10, 73, 75, 129, 131, 201, and 226, alongside sections of the Political Parties Act, which bar the use of public resources to promote political party interests.
Among the key remedies sought, the petitioner wants the court to declare the use of State House for partisan political activities unconstitutional and order the Comptroller of State House to disclose the full cost of all political activities conducted at the facility.
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