A fresh legal battle has erupted after a petition was filed at the High Court seeking the immediate reinstatement of security officers attached to Siaya Governor James Orengo, with claims that the withdrawal was unlawful, discriminatory and politically driven.

The case, filed by the Centre for Litigation Trust, accuses the government of abruptly withdrawing Governor Orengo’s entire security detail on May 19, including officers guarding his residences in Nairobi and Siaya, allegedly without notice or formal explanation.

Named in the petition are the National Police Service Inspector General, the Interior Cabinet Secretary and the Attorney General, with the petitioner arguing that the move exposed the governor to security threats and undermined constitutional safeguards on fair administrative action and good governance.

“All county governors continue to receive state security, making the a withdrawal of Orengo’s protection an unfair and selective departure from standard government practice,” argues the lobby group in court documents.

The lobby group further contends that security for constitutional office holders is protected by law and essential in enabling governors to execute their duties free from intimidation, interference or political pressure.