Supreme Court to rule on Kenya poll date

The date of the next General Election lies with the Supreme Court.

The hearing of all cases in other courts on the dispute over the correct date when elections should be held will have to wait.

This is after the High Court on Thursday suspended the cases on the determination of the election date until the Supreme Court makes a decision on two cases pending before it.

The two cases will be allocated a hearing date on Friday. (READ: Pressure mounts on court over Kenya poll date)

Hearing dates

Chief Registrar Gladys Shollei said parties in the cases have been asked to appear today to get hearing dates before the Supreme Court.

These are the Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution and the Interim Independent Electoral Commission.

Addressing the press on Thursday at the Nairobi Law Courts, Ms Shollei clarified that the other two cases filed by Kilome MP Harun Mwau and lawyer Mugambi Imanyara will be dealt with by the High Court.

The cases were mentioned on Thursday before High Court Judge David Majanja who directed that their hearing be halted until the Supreme Court determines the two matters.

Another case lodged recently by Kituo Cha Sheria was also shelved. Mr Justice Majanja deferred the three cases until October 31.

A lawyer acting for Mr Imanyara said the court should issue interim orders stopping Parliament from publishing the Bill seeking to alter the election date. (READ: Parliament and Supreme Court headed for clash over polls date)

But the deputy solicitor-general argued that the case should await the Supreme Court ruling.

Justice Minister Mutula Kilonzo published the Constitution Amendment Bill, 2011 on September 21 and four lobby groups led by Kituo Cha Sheria filed a suit seeking to stop him from tabling the Bill in Parliament for debate.

They maintain that the Constitution can only be amended through a referendum.