Chief Justice David Maraga has been requested by the High Court to form a three-judge bench to hear the case challenging the issuance of the new currency notes filed by Okiya Omtatah. Omtatah’s filed case is the second petition after EALA MP Simon Mbugua’s case, where he faulted the Central Bank of Kenya Governor Patrick Njoroge for allegedly flouting the law, and said there was no public participation, and also called for the issuance of the new generation notes to stop.
Omtatah has also called for the Court to halt the circulation of the notes, and Justice Weldon Korir has said that the issues raised in the petition are weighty, and raise substantial questions about the law, thus the decision to refer the case to the CJ. Another factor that has led to rising opposition from some quarters concerning the new banknotes is the image of the statue of the late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, and Simon Mbugua in his case said that goes against the provisions of Article 234 (4) of the Constitution.
Nonetheless, CBK Governor Patrick Njoroge had insisted that all applicable laws were adhered to prior to the launch and issuance of the notes on Madaraka Day. He said they are ready to challenge any petitions against the move in Court.