A suit filed by a man seeking to have the Luo people form their own independent state has been rejected by the High Court.
Justice Lawrence Mugambi said that the suit, filed by Ojijo Mark Pascal, was wrongly filed. He said that Ojijo should have filed a constitutional petition, rather than a plaint.
Ojijo had claimed to represent some 10,000 Luos, and he wanted the court to order the government to hold a referendum on secession. He argued that the Luo people have been discriminated against by the government, and that they have a right to self-determination.
However, Justice Mugambi ruled that Ojijo had not followed the correct procedures for filing a constitutional petition. He said that the suit was therefore struck out.
Ojijo has the option of filing a new suit, but he must do so in the correct way. He must also be prepared to provide evidence to support his claims of discrimination and a right to self-determination.
The decision by the High Court is a setback for the Luo secession movement. However, it is not the end of the road for those who believe that the Luo people should have their own independent state.