Constitutional Petition Seeks Removal of KWS Director General Over Alleged Abuse of Office

A Judicial activist has filed a petition before the High Court seeking constitutional declaration damages and institutional accountability measures, and the Public Service Commission is questioning the suitability of the Kenya Wildlife Service KWS Director General (DG).

The matter was filed at the Constitutional and Human Rights Division in Milimani by Francis Awino, questioning the suitability to hold office of Professor Erastus Kanga, the DG of the Kenya Wildlife Service.

The petitioner, who is involved in matters of constitutional accountability and governance oversight, is accusing Kanga of the illegal detention on January 14, 2026.

The petitioner states that the arrest came after Kanga learned he intended to file constitutional matters touching on the accountability concern surrounding the management and conduct of affairs within KWS.

Awino claims that when he went to serve Kanga with the summons, instead of receiving the same, and acting in abuse of office and misuse of state powers, he ordered the activist to be arrested.

He states that there were no prior summons, a warrant, or lawful justification while he was arrested by officers linked to investigative agencies acting on a complaint attributed to the said Professor.

They took him to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) court under a miscellaneous application seeking time for continued detention to investigate the matter.

He states that “The arrest was executed in a manner to intimidate, humiliate and criminalize him for pursuing a legal grievance.”

The application, which was framed as extortion, was dismissed by the court since no material facts were presented to justify the same, and he was released on cash bail on January 15, 2026.

When the matter came for mention on January 27, 2026, the prosecution again admitted that investigations were not complete and sought a time extension.

While dismissing the application, the court indicated that “investigations must be completed before charging a person,” and consequently proceeded to close the file.

The petitioner states that the action to arrest and arraign him in court was premature and was done in bad faith outside the constitutional values, in abuse of office, and in abuse of National Values under Article 10 of the Constitution.

He urged the court to declare Kanga not suitable to hold public office.