Senator Omtatah Rebukes CDF Kahariri, NIS’ Haji Over ‘Ruto Must Go’ Comments
General Charles Kahariri, Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), and Noordin Haji, Director General of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), have both received harsh criticism from the public.
This comes after they urged Kenyans against chanting ‘Ruto Must Go’ without following constitutional procedures.
On Friday morning, Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah accused Kahariri and Haji of violating the Constitution by directly participating in politics.
In a statement, Omtatah stated that the engagement of the country’s top security agencies in a politically charged situation violated the Constitution, which requires them to remain neutral and apolitical.
“The NIS and CDF’s public remarks at the lecture, framing the ‘Ruto Must Go’ campaign as a threat, breach this obligation, compromising their independence,” Omtatah stated.
“Across Africa, history warns us of the perils when security organs entangle themselves in politics,” he added.
“The Constitution of Kenya, 2010, under Article 239(3), explicitly states that a national security organ shall not, in performing its functions, act in a partisan manner.”
PRESS STATEMENT ON THE UNCONSTITUTIONAL INVOLVEMENT OF SECURITY AGENCIES IN POLITICAL MATTERS
— Okiya Omtatah Okoiti (@OkiyaOmtatah) March 28, 2025
Date: 28/3/2025
We are deeply alarmed by the involvement of the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) in responding to the “#RutoMustGo” campaign, as…
According to Omtatah, the military’s principal job is to defend and protect the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, rather than to engage in politics.
While denouncing the two leaders, the Busia MP demanded that Kahariri and Haji immediately discontinue any further role in Kenya’s political affairs.
He also ordered that the NIS Director-General and Chief of Defence Forces issue a public statement defining their positions and confirming their commitment to constitutional neutrality.
Omtatah also requested Parliament to conduct a quick investigation into the suspected exploitation of state security agencies for political objectives.
Furthermore, the member requested judicial accountability for any officials found to be in violation of the Constitution and other laws.
“Kenya is a democratic nation governed by the rule of law,” the Busia lawmaker commented.
“We will not allow security institutions to be weaponised for political suppression, as seen in continental examples of military overreach.”
Omtatah’s demand notice comes only hours after Kahariri urged Kenyans who chanted ‘Ruto Must Go’ to do so in conformity with the Constitution.
General Kahariri emphasized that the military will not take any efforts to remove an elected government.
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On Thursday, March 27, the CDF spoke at Kenya’s National Intelligence and Research University in Nairobi.
That ‘Must go’ must be done according to the constitution- General Charles Kahariri says as he affirms that military do not support any of the political sides. pic.twitter.com/uJ4dZbUD5h
— The Standard Digital (@StandardKenya) March 27, 2025
“We cannot have anarchy as a country. Even as people exercise their freedom, they must do so within certain limits. We, the military, are apolitical; we do not support any side,” Kahariri said.
“We defend the Constitution and the government of the day, duly elected by the people,” he added.
“Now that you feel tired of somebody you genuinely elected and begin to chant ‘Must Go’, that ‘Must Go’ should be done in accordance with the Constitution.”
Senator Omtatah Rebukes CDF Kahariri, NIS’ Haji Over ‘Ruto Must Go’ Comments
