(NGOs) registered in Kenya. The Applicant states that the latter works
specifically to promote the rights of the Ogieks while the former has
Observer Status
with
the
Commission , and
therefore
both
were
competent to invoke the jurisdiction of the Commission.
The Court's Assessment
58. The personal jurisdiction of the Court is governed by Article 5 (1) of the Protocol
which lists the entities, including the Applicant, entitled to submit cases before it. By
virtue of this provision , the Court has personal jurisdiction with respect to this
Application. The argument adduced by the Respondent according to which the
original complainants had no standing to file the matter before the Commission and
to act on behalf of the Ogieks is not relevant in the determination of the personal
jurisdiction of the Court because the original complainants before the Commission
are not the parties in the Application before this Court. The Court does not have to
make a determination on the jurisdiction of the Commission.
59. With regard to its jurisdiction over the Respondent, the Court recalls that the
Respondent is a State Party to the Charter and to the Protocol. Accordingly, the Court
finds that it has personal jurisdiction over the Respondent.
60. It is also important for this Court to restate that, because the Application before
it is filed by the Commission, pursuant to Articles 2 and 5(1 )(a) of the Protocol,
the question as to whether or not the Respondent has made the declaration
under Article 34(6) of the Protocol does not arise. This is because, unlike for
individuals and NGOs, the Protocol does not require the Respondent to have
made the declaration under Article 34(6) for the Commission to file Applications
before the Court.4
61 . Therefore , the Court holds that it has personal jurisdiction to hear this
Application.
4 See African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights v Libya (Judgment on Merits) 3 June 2016
paragraph 51 .
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