The troubling Court of Appeal stay order on Ruto's Advisers

Dorcas Oduor takes oath of office during her swearing -in as the New Attorney General in a ceremony at State House [Elly Okware, Standard]

The recent ruling by the Court of Appeal allowing the President's advisers to remain in office pending the determination of a substantive appeal has generated intense public debate. Much of the commentary has focused on two procedural concerns: The speed with which the ruling was delivered about a month earlier than expected, and the court's failure to notify Katiba Institute, the petitioner that had successfully challenged the advisers' appointments in the High Court, of the hearing and the ruling.

These two concerns are legitimate. Yet, in my view, they also obscure deeper and more troubling issues raised by the case. Three matters stand out. First, the extraordinary level of resources mobilised by the Attorney General's (AG) office to defend the advisers.