ACTIVISTS MOVE TO COURT AFTER ASSAULT ON CONVENOR IN FUEL WAIVER ROW.

BY NJOKI KARANJA 
Nairobi, Kenya.

 A grassroots lobby group has escalated its push for accountability in the controversial fuel waiver saga, filing a public interest petition seeking the removal of senior government officials following a violent attack on its national convenor.
Mtetezi – the Grassroots Economic Justice Movement on Friday condemned the assault on its National Convenor, Francis Awino, who was allegedly attacked by a group of goons during a press briefing. The incident, which also saw journalists assaulted, left Awino injured and briefly hospitalized before his discharge.

The group linked the attack to its recent calls for the resignation of Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi and Trade Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui over their alleged connections to the importation of substandard fuel through a controversial waiver process.
In a statement, Mtetezi said it has now moved to court, arguing that the continued stay in office of the two Cabinet Secretaries undermines public confidence in ongoing investigations. The petition cites emerging probes that have already led to arrests and resignations of junior officials within the energy sector.

“The assault on a petitioner raises serious concerns of intimidation surrounding the scandal,” the group said, adding that the attack represents a troubling escalation from a governance dispute into a broader issue involving constitutional rights and public participation.

The petition seeks the immediate suspension of both Cabinet Secretaries pending investigations, as well as enhanced protection for whistleblowers and public interest litigants. It also calls for accountability for individuals involved in the violence against Awino and members of the press.
Mtetezi warned that failure to act decisively risks eroding trust in accountability mechanisms, insisting that the matter now goes beyond policy disagreements to include concerns over safety, freedom of expression, and the rule of law.

The fuel waiver controversy has sparked national debate in recent weeks, with mounting pressure on authorities to address allegations of regulatory lapses that allowed substandard fuel into the Kenyan market.

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