High Court Judge George Odunga. He has directed Nasa to appear before a different judge on Monday for the direction in a case it filed at the High Court on Thursday. [Photo: sde.co.ke]
High Court judge Justice George Odunga has directed the National Super Alliance (NASA) to appear before Justice Chacha Mwita on Monday.This is in a case aimed at blocking the government from deploying the military in hotspot areas during and after the polls.Odunga who handled the file on Thursday told the coalition lawyers that Mwita will give further directions on the case.The judge recently grabbed the headlines after he was accused by Jubilee of bias and issuing pro-NASA rulings.In the application filed urgently at the Milimani Courts, NASA accuses the government of charting a dangerous precedent that threatens the rule of law and good governance."Unless the sanction of the National Assembly is obtained before deploying, involving or engaging the military in the internal security operations of the country, the same shall be tantamount to an overthrow of the civilian authority of the people of Kenya,” reads the document filed by lawyer Jackson Awele as quoted by the Star.Nasa argues that deploying soldiers in specific areas without the approval of Parliament is illegal and aimed at intimidating voters and denying them the right to vote freely.Nasa CEO Norman Magaya, says they are concerned that the intended deployment before and during the election will constrain the free exercise of citizens’ political rights."The justifications are not genuine and are designed to intimidate voters to spur apathy in specific regions," he said.