The High Court in Nairobi has directed Kenya’s Attorney General to respond within 14 days to a lawsuit filed by Ugandan opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye over his deportation.
Justice Lawrence Mugambi rejected a request from the State for more time, saying the Attorney General’s office had already been given ample opportunity to prepare.
The case, which touches on both politics and regional security, has drawn attention across East Africa. Dr Besigye, a retired colonel and one of Uganda’s most influential opposition voices, was deported from Kenya earlier this year. He is now challenging the decision in court.
During a compliance hearing, State lawyer Marwa admitted that no formal response had been filed despite the Attorney General’s office being served with court papers in July. He explained that several government offices had been slow to coordinate, and asked for an additional 21 days.
Senior Counsel Martha Karua, representing Dr Besigye, strongly objected. “They were served on 28 July and have had two months to act. How do they take all this time without responding?” she told the court.
She argued that the case carries heavy political weight, noting that her legal team had travelled from Uganda because of its direct link to Dr Besigye’s political battles and the broader question of rights within the region.
Justice Mugambi declined to extend the deadline to 21 days, but gave the State a final 14-day window to file its defence.
The proceedings are being closely watched, as they raise questions not just about Dr Besigye’s treatment in Kenya but also about how East African governments handle opposition leaders and cross-border political disputes.
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