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Friday, 21 August 2026
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Friday, 21 August 2026
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Kenyan press · Person

Justice Bahati Mwamuye

Also known as: Judge Bahati Mwamuye · High Court Judge Bahati Mwamuye

High Court justice who issued landmark rulings on shisha enforcement, adolescent prosecution, and gender marker changes.

2026-04-242026-08-21

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

  1. May 2026
  2. The Standard

    Justice Bahati Mwamuye, in his judgment, in a case filed by transgender person Audrey Mbugua, Maureen Muiya, and Arnest Thaiya, said that the delays and silence cannot be used to defeat Constitutional requirements.

    Court rules Kenyans can change gender markers on official documents
  3. Capital News

    In the ruling delivered by Justice Bahati Mwamuye, the court awarded each petitioner Sh900,000 in general damages, translating to a total payout of Sh9.9 million, excluding interest and legal costs.

    Safaricom Ordered to Pay Sh11mn Over Massive Subscriber Data Breach
  4. Citizen Digital

    Justice Bahati Mwamuye directed the petitioner to serve all respondents by May 8, 2026, while responses to the petition and application are expected by May 22, 2026.

    Petition filed to suspend SHA, Digital Health rollout over legality questions
  5. April 2026
  6. Capital News

    In a ruling delivered on Wednesday, Justice Bahati Mwamuye dismissed a constitutional challenge to the directive introduced in May 2025, concluding that the measures are lawful and primarily intended to enhance road safety.

    High Court Clears NTSA to Enforce Ban on Flashy PSV Modifications
  7. Citizen Digital

    In a judgement delivered on Wednesday, Justice Bahati Mwamuye upheld the legality of the May 2025 enforcement notice issued by NTSA, ruling that the directive was lawful and necessary to promote road safety and compliance in the public transport sector.

    Court dismisses petition against NTSA directive on matatu graffiti, tinted windows
  8. Citizen Digital

    Justice Bahati Mwamuye granted conservatory relief restraining the FKF NEC from “suspending, removing, or in any other way interfering” with Yusuf’s office and position within FKF, the committee, and related bodies.

    Court stops removal of FKF NEC member Abdullahi Yusuf amid leadership tussle
  9. Citizen Digital

    The owners have since filed a case in 2026, which is scheduled for mention on April 30, while a constitutional petition over the same property will be mentioned on May 19 before Justice Bahati Mwamuye.

    Paradise Lost land owners claim decades-old ownership, allege fraudulent takeover
Politics

High Court lifts shisha ban, citing unlawful enforcement

The News

The High Court has lifted Kenya's ban on shisha, ruling that continued enforcement of the prohibition is unlawful and unconstitutional after the government failed to regularise the underlying 2017 regulations within a court-ordered nine-month timeframe. Justice Bahati Mwamuye declared a February 2025 Ministry of Health statement and April 2025 nationwide crackdown directive unlawful, and restrained the government from enforcing the expired regulations.

28 July 2026 · Capital News

Tuesday 28 July

  1. High Court lifts shisha ban, citing unlawful enforcement

    The High Court has lifted Kenya's ban on shisha, ruling that continued enforcement of the prohibition is unlawful and unconstitutional after the government failed to regularise the underlying 2017 regulations within a court-ordered nine-month timeframe. Justice Bahati Mwamuye declared a February 2025 Ministry of Health statement and April 2025 nationwide crackdown directive unlawful, and restrained the government from enforcing the expired regulations.

    28 July 2026 · Capital News

  2. High Court lifts shisha ban as regulations expired unlawfully

    Kenya's High Court has lifted the ban on shisha, ruling that continued enforcement is unlawful and unconstitutional because the Public Health (Control of Shisha Smoking) Rules, 2017 expired after the government failed to regularise them within a nine-month period granted by the court in 2018. The judge barred the government from enforcing the expired rules and subsequent directives against members of the Novel Tobacco Products Association.

    28 July 2026 · Citizen Digital

  3. High Court declares shisha ban unconstitutional, lifts enforcement

    Justice Bahati Mwamuye ruled that the legal foundation of Kenya's shisha ban collapsed after the government failed to regularise the Public Health (Control of Shisha Smoking) Rules, 2017 within a court-set timeline. The court barred government agencies from enforcing notices issued in 2025 targeting shisha traders and businesses.

    28 July 2026 · The Standard

Friday 24 July

  1. IG Kanja pledges compliance with Gatoto School restoration orders

    Inspector General Douglas Kanja told the High Court on Friday he only became aware of orders directing the restoration of Gatoto Community Primary School to its management on Thursday, pledging the National Police Service would comply. The school's Board of Management had filed contempt of court proceedings accusing senior government and police officials of deliberately disobeying restoration orders.

    24 July 2026 · The Standard

Wednesday 15 July

  1. High Court dismisses Rastafarian bid to legalize cannabis

    Kenya's High Court dismissed a petition by Rastafarians seeking to legalize cannabis for religious purposes, ruling the petitioners failed to prove that drug laws violate their constitutional rights to freedom of religion and belief. The judge acknowledged the need for broader national conversation on cannabis policy.

    15 July 2026 · Citizen Digital

Monday 13 July

  1. Court bars Kajiado County from taking over Amboseli National Park

    The High Court has for the second time barred Kajiado County Governor Joseph Ole Lenku and county officials from taking over, managing or interfering with Amboseli National Park pending a contempt hearing scheduled for July 24.

    13 July 2026 · The Standard

Wednesday 8 July

  1. High Court voids envoys' pay structure, orders public participation

    Kenya's High Court has declared unconstitutional the Salaries and Remuneration Commission's March 2024 remuneration framework for ambassadors, high commissioners, and diplomatic representatives, citing lack of public participation. The court suspended the quashing order for 190 days to allow the commission to conduct public participation and independently determine the Foreign Service Allowance, during which diplomats will continue receiving current salaries and benefits.

    8 July 2026 · The Standard

  2. Gig workers urge government to amend Business Laws Bill clauses

    Kenya's gig worker unions have called on the government to amend clauses 10, 11 and 12 in the Business Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, arguing that the provisions shield multinational technology firms from accountability and favour foreign investors over local worker protections in digital and platform work.

    8 July 2026 · The Standard

Wednesday 17 June

  1. High Court rejects JILK bid to halt Sh340bn EABL sale

    The High Court dismissed JILK Construction Company's application for conservatory orders to halt Diageo's Sh340 billion sale of its controlling stake in East African Breweries to Japan's Asahi Group Holdings, ruling that the firm's grievances had no link to the transaction.

    17 June 2026 · The Standard

Friday 12 June

  1. Civil society seeks record expungement after court finds teen law unconstitutional

    Following a May 20 High Court ruling that declared the criminalisation of consensual adolescent peer relationships unconstitutional, civil society organisations are calling for the expungement of criminal records and psychosocial support for minors previously prosecuted under Kenya's Sexual Offences Act. Justice Bahati Mwamuye found that Sections 8, 9 and 11 of the Act violated constitutional rights when applied to adolescents in consensual, non-coercive relationships.

    12 June 2026 · Capital News

Tuesday 9 June

  1. Constitutional petition on SHA legality moved to Milimani

    A constitutional petition challenging the legality of the Social Health Authority (SHA), digital health systems and public officer medical schemes has been transferred from the High Court in Kiambu to the Constitutional and Human Rights Division at Milimani. The petition, filed by Francis Awino, argues that the healthcare financing structures are operating outside the law.

    9 June 2026 · Citizen Digital

  2. Court suggests lawyer withdraw bid to block Senate debate on Uhuru benefits

    A High Court judge in Kiambu has asked lawyer Shadrack Wambui to consider withdrawing an application seeking to stop the Senate from debating a motion to review retired President Uhuru Kenyatta's retirement benefits. The judge noted that the matter has not yet been listed on any Senate order paper for debate and the court cannot proceed based on speculation.

    9 June 2026 · The Standard

Thursday 4 June

  1. Court suspends engineers' meeting resolutions pending case hearing

    The High Court has temporarily suspended implementation of resolutions passed during a Special General Meeting of the Institution of Engineers of Kenya on May 21, 2026, following an urgent application by engineer Sam Aberi Okemwa challenging the meeting's legality and its impact on an ongoing constitutional petition.

    4 June 2026 · Citizen Digital

  2. Judge orders NTSA to maintain audit trail of instant fines

    A High Court judge has issued a conservatory order requiring the NTSA to keep detailed records of all payments made under the instant penalty system for traffic offences, which launched on June 1, 2026. The ruling does not halt enforcement but sets up a legal challenge ahead of a scheduled hearing on the matter.

    4 June 2026 · The Standard

Tuesday 26 May

  1. President's graffiti directive contradicts High Court ruling

    President William Ruto ordered police to allow matatus bearing graffiti to operate unmolested, effectively overriding a High Court ruling by Justice Bahati Mwamuye that dismissed a petition challenging the National Transport and Safety Authority's ban on graffiti and decorative artwork on public service vehicles.

    26 May 2026 · The Standard

Saturday 23 May

  1. Justice Mwamuye rules on adolescent prosecution under Sexual Offences Act

    Justice Bahati Mwamuye's recent decision in HSA, AMO, TA & Another Vs Attorney General addresses the prosecution of adolescents under the Sexual Offences Act. The judgment recognises the law's purpose in protecting minors while addressing concerns about the law's practical application and its blanket presumptions on adolescent behaviour.

    23 May 2026 · The Standard

Thursday 21 May

  1. High Court rules Sexual Offences Act unconstitutional for adolescent peers

    Kenya's High Court has declared that prosecuting adolescents under the Sexual Offences Act for consensual, non-coercive peer relationships violates constitutional rights including equality, dignity, privacy, and the best interests of the child. Justice Bahati Mwamuye ruled that criminal enforcement of Sections 8, 9 and 11 of the Act against adolescents in close-age relationships without evidence of exploitation, coercion, abuse or power imbalance is unconstitutional.

    21 May 2026 · Capital News

  2. High Court rules Sexual Offences Act cannot criminalise consensual teen relationships

    Kenya's High Court declared that sections of the Sexual Offences Act cannot be applied to criminalise consensual, non-coercive sexual relationships between adolescents who are close in age, ruling that such enforcement violates constitutional rights including equality, dignity, privacy and the rights of children. The court found that criminal sanctions should not apply where there is no evidence of exploitation, coercion, abuse or power imbalance between adolescents of close age proximity.

    21 May 2026 · Citizen Digital

Wednesday 20 May

  1. High Court rules Kenyan law permits gender marker changes on documents

    Kenya's High Court issued a landmark ruling that Kenyan law does not expressly prohibit the alteration of sex or gender markers on official documents, finding that the refusal by state agencies to amend the documents of transgender activist Audrey Mbugua Ithibu violated constitutional guarantees on equality, dignity, privacy, freedom of expression and fair administrative action.

    20 May 2026 · Citizen Digital

  2. High Court nullifies Aisha Jumwa's Kenya Roads Board chair appointment

    The High Court has quashed former Cabinet Secretary Aisha Jumwa's appointment as Chairperson of the Kenya Roads Board, ruling the process violated the Constitution and the Kenya Roads Board Act by failing to meet statutory requirements for transparency, accountability and fair administrative action. The judge declared the appointment unconstitutional, unlawful, null and void ab initio.

    20 May 2026 · Citizen Digital

  3. High Court allows Kenyans to change gender markers on documents

    Justice Bahati Mwamuye ruled that the Births and Deaths Registration Act and Registration of Persons Act, interpreted consistently with the Constitution, do not prohibit alteration of gender markers in official documents. The registrar has been ordered to receive applications within 60 days, with changes to be considered case-by-case on medical and legal grounds pending legislative intervention.

    20 May 2026 · The Standard

Thursday 14 May

  1. High Court orders Safaricom to pay Sh11mn for data breach

    Kenya's High Court has ordered Safaricom to compensate 11 subscribers with Sh900,000 each for violating their constitutional rights in a data privacy case linked to a breach that allegedly compromised information belonging to more than 11.5 million subscribers between 2018 and 2019. The court found that Safaricom failed to establish adequate safeguards to protect customer data from internal misuse by rogue staff members.

    14 May 2026 · Capital News

Thursday 7 May

  1. Petition challenges legality of SHA, Digital Health systems

    A constitutional petition has been filed at the High Court in Kiambu by Francis Awino challenging the legality of the Social Health Authority, digital health systems and public officer medical schemes, alleging they operate outside the law and conduct insurance functions without statutory authorisation.

    7 May 2026 · Citizen Digital

Wednesday 29 April

  1. High Court upholds NTSA ban on flashy PSV modifications

    The High Court has affirmed regulations issued by the National Transport and Safety Authority requiring public service vehicles to remove graffiti art, flashy branding, and tinted windows, dismissing a constitutional challenge filed by a matatu operator who argued the directive unfairly targeted matatu culture and was discriminatory.

    29 April 2026 · Capital News

  2. High Court upholds NTSA ban on matatu graffiti and tinted windows

    Kenya's High Court has dismissed a constitutional petition challenging the National Transport and Safety Authority's May 2025 directive requiring public service vehicles to remove graffiti, decorative artwork, and tinted windows. Justice Bahati Mwamuye ruled the directive lawful and necessary for road safety, rejecting claims by petitioner Michael Makubo that it unfairly targeted matatu operators and threatened nganya culture.

    29 April 2026 · Citizen Digital

Tuesday 28 April

  1. High Court halts FKF NEC's suspension of member Abdullahi Yusuf

    The High Court has temporarily stopped the Football Kenya Federation's National Executive Committee from suspending or removing member Abdullahi Yusuf from office pending the hearing of his constitutional petition. The restraining order follows resolutions passed on April 24, 2026, where several NEC members directed Yusuf to step aside.

    28 April 2026 · Citizen Digital

Friday 24 April

  1. Paradise Lost owners claim 1929 title, allege 2024 fraudulent takeover

    Owners of the disputed Paradise Lost land, a 200-acre property, claim decades-old ownership dating to 1929 and allege that unknown individuals perpetrated a fraudulent scheme involving fake title deeds beginning in 2024. They have filed a case scheduled for mention on April 30, accusing government officials and police of failing to assist despite complaints to the Ministry of Lands and the Chief Land Registrar.

    24 April 2026 · Citizen Digital

Justice Bahati Mwamuye — Kenyan press coverage · Kenya Minute