48 and 50 of the Constitution. He argues that the respondent’s Terms of Service does not deal with
violation of rights under the Bill of rights.
5th Interested Party’s Case
68. Mugambi Kiai, the 5th interested party’s Regional Director on its behalf filed a Replying Affidavit
sworn on 24th November 2023.
69. He depones in opposition that the respondent’s jurisdictional averments have no basis in fact and
law. He notes that the respondent’s impugned actions arose as a result of content moderation that
was being conducted in Kenya although complaints arose from Ethiopia. Furthermore, that the
respondent’s content moderation for the East Africa region is based in Kenya. He in addition
underscores that it was apparent that the respondent’s operation has a global reach including Kenya
and thus not in doubt that they operate in Kenya.
70. He argues that every person despite their nationality has a right to institute proceedings in
Court claiming violation of a right or a fundamental freedom under the Bill of rights. In this case he
avers that it was, the infringement occasioned by the content moderation.
71. He also challenges the assertion of constitutional avoidance since the petition raises
constitutional issues on the respondent’s business model in addition to the other averments raised in
the petition. Therefore, he states that the petition raises issues of public interest that can only be
addressed by constitutional resolution. He on this premise avers that there are circumstances under
which an exemption is made to the doctrine of constitutional avoidance such as this petition.
72. He further posits that the 2nd and 3rd petitioners reside in Kenya therefore have the requisite
locus standi to institute the instant suit. Moreover, it is noted that the petition is brought on behalf
of a class of persons who use Facebook in various capacities within Kenya thus unfeasible to propose
that the suit be instituted in the State of California. He states that the petition transcends the
individual relationship between the respondent and its users as affects millions of people including
those who do not even use the Platform.
The Other Interested Parties responses
73. The other interested parties’ responses and submissions are not in the Court file or Court Online
Platform (CTS).
Respondent’s Submissions
74. The respondent through Coulson Harney LLP Advocates filed two sets of submissions dated 12th
February 2024 and 19th April 2024.These submissions were made in reply to the parties’ responses
not the respondent’s application.
75. Counsel on a preliminary note opposed the responses for being filed late. That is long after the
deadlines were issued and that they did not seek leave of the Court to file the responses. In this
regard, Counsel urged that the late responses be disregarded by the Court and petition be
dismissed.
76. Reliance was placed in Benard Maina Kamau v Sunripe (1976) Limited (2014) eKLR where it was
held that:
“Parties should not be allowed to disobey orders and directions issued by the courts and orders and
directions issued by the court must be adhered to without fail.”
77. Counsel in addition noted that the 3rd interested party’s reply lacks merit as raises unfounded
and irrelevant allegations that fail to address the respondent’s averments on this Court’s lack of
jurisdiction.
78. Like arguments were made with reference to the petitioners’ responses and submissions, 2nd,
3rd and 7th interested parties’ responses. Reliance was placed in Francis Karioki Muruatetu
&another v Republic & 5 others (2016) eKLR where the Supreme Court prohibited the interested
party from introducing new issues for determination by the Court.
The Judiciary of Kenya
Doc IDENTITY: 2256051208128601561718914604 Tracking
Number:OOEX9A2025
12/23