Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) General Charles Kahariri and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), Norrdin Haji, violated the constitution by engaging in politics.

According to the Institute of Human Rights (IHR), the involvement of the country’s top security chiefs in politically charged matters is against their constitutional obligations.

In an interview with The Standard from Geneva, Switzerland, IHR President David Koros, emphasised that the constitution requires Kahariri and Haji to remain neutral and apolitical.

He criticised their recent comments at a lecture, where they attempted to frame the ‘Ruto Must Go’ campaign as a threat to democracy and the independence of their offices.

Koros reiterated that the primary role of the military is to defend and protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Kenya, not to engage in politics.

He condemned the two officials, calling for them to immediately cease any involvement in the country’s political affairs.

“Kenyans have the right to express their freedom through various forms of communication. This is not the first time Kenyans have rallied around a slogan; we’ve seen similar movements before, such as ‘Moi Must Go’. The phrase ‘Ruto Must Go’ is common worldwide, even in countries ruled by dictators where citizens are oppressed, and Kenya is no exception; it is a human rights issue,” Koros said.

He urged President William Ruto to stop involving independent institutions in political matters.

“As a human rights organisation, we struggle to understand where Kahariri and Haji were during the abductions, killings, and disappearances of innocent Kenyans,” he said.

Koros demanded that Kahariri and Haji issue a public statement clarifying their roles and reaffirming their commitment to constitutional neutrality.

Kahariri and Haji made their remarks on March 27 at the National Intelligence and Research University in Nairobi. General Kahariri stated that the military would not participate in any actions aimed at overthrowing an elected government.

“We cannot have anarchy in this country. While people exercise their freedom, they must do so within certain limits. We, the military, are apolitical; we do not support any side,” Kahariri stated.

“We defend the Constitution and the government that has been duly elected by the people. If you feel tired of someone you genuinely elected and start chanting ‘Must Go’, that should be done in accordance with the Constitution,” he added.

Their remarks have drawn sharp criticism from former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and the People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader, Martha Karua.