President Uhuru Kenyatta flew back into Kenya after a three day state visit in DRC, on Thursday evening, April 22, 2021. Uhuru, while in DRC, signed four framework cooperation agreements covering several economic sectors; security, defence and maritime transport.
"I will never stop to be grateful for the support Kenya continues to offer DRC," President Tshisekedi said.
However, as the head of state was driven in Cadillac Escalades and treated to a royal party at Palais de la Nation - the official residence of DR Congo's President Felix Tshisekedi - his government and party in Kenya were wallowing in crisis.
The President upon landing is expected to steer State House through another constitutional crisis after a High Court ruled that nine Cabinet Secretaries (CSs) and all 29 Chief Administrative Secretaries (CASss) are illegally in office.
High Court Judge Antony Mrima, ruled that President Uhuru Kenyatta disregarded the law when creating the CAS jobs and that it was unconstitutional to exempt nine CSs from parliamentary vetting when Uhuru's second term commenced in 2017.
Jubilee Secretary-General and CS without portfolio, Raphael Tuju downplayed the cruciality of the matter, saying that the Cabinet would be advised by Attorney General Paul Kihara.
"I can assure you that there is no panic in the Cabinet and that there is no effect of this particular ruling until after May 29. If at all we are in disagreement with it, which I think we are, there is an appellate process and I believe the President adhered to the law," Tuju stated.
However, Uhuru has on multiple occasions been accused of blatantly disobeying the law and undermining the Judiciary. Legal experts argued that he may maintain his silence or reshuffle the Cabinet.
Another crisis at hand is the Jubilee-UDA row, with Tuju initiating the process to sever ties with the Deputy President William Ruto linked party.
Tuju wrote to the Registrar of Political Parties seeking to terminate the coalition between Jubilee and the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) formerly known as Party of Development and Reforms (PDR).
"Let them not try to imagine that we are fools when we are investing in UDA. We will even be better off as UDA without any Jubilee association," Ruto's allies cautioned Jubilee, adding that they would file a suit to challenge the decision.
The developments come a few months after Uhuru dared Ruto to resign from government, accusing the DP of sabotage and hypocrisy.
Uhuru is also set to face criticism from his antagonists over his relationship with Jubilee Vice-Chairman, David Murathe, who admitted to having ties with a firm linked to the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA) scandal. Murathe is a close ally of the President and even at times is perceived to be his spokesperson.
The Jubilee Vice-Chairman - in a sworn affidavit written to MPs investigating the scandal - said that he was a signatory to Kilig Limited's bank accounts, but not a shareholder nor director as accused.
"We want to see how the tender was evaluated, how people bid and how it was awarded. This level of transparency will help to manage the resources of Kenyan taxpayers in an open and transparent manner.
"I want a report on the scandal and all persons found to be culpable as a result of those ongoing investigations should be brought to book notwithstanding their public office or their political or for that matter their social status," Uhuru directed in August 2020.
