A section of leaders, politicians and lawyers have come out to condemn President William Ruto’s continued attacks on the judiciary.
This comes after President Ruto, in his address in Nyandarua at a burial on Tuesday, accused the judiciary of accepting bribes to sabotage the government and noted that, his administration will no longer follow orders from the court.
“Our judiciary, we respect you but judicial impunity by corrupt judicial officers must stop in Kenya…we will stop it and whatever it takes,” said the President.
The remarks have aroused reactions from various leaders in the country and they now want the Head of State to take back his works and commit himself to following the law.
Siaya Governor James Orengo termed Ruto’s statements as ‘infamy to our constitutional order’ and added that there is a better way of dealing with corruption in the judiciary but not by disobeying court orders.
“There is always a legal mechanism of overturning judicial decisions obtained by fraud or for cleaning a rogue judiciary. The office of the president has many tools, and disobedience of inconvenient court orders is certainly not one of them,” wrote Mr. Orengo on his X account.
Professor Makau Mutua, a law professor on his part advised Ruto to clean up the judiciary instead of taking route to defying court orders saying that it would drive the country lawless.
“The answer to a corrupt judiciary isn’t defiance of court orders. It’s comprehensive reform of the judiciary — removing corrupt judges, sacking/removing corrupt politicians/civil servants, dismantling colluding cartels in the bar, and jailing corrupt businesspersons,” said Mr.Mutua.
The Thirdway Alliance party leader and constitutional expert Dr. Ekuru Aukot said the president’s rant is a direct threat to the judiciary as well as individual judges probably those who have not favoured the Kenya Kwanza government in their rulings.
“President William Ruto is directly threatening judges and undermining the other arm of government, the Judiciary. He is also complicit since he claims to have evidence of corrupt judges but does not want to share with the JSC! Under criminal law, he is culpable,” said Aukot.
Lawyer Miguna Miguna also reminded Ruto that he wouldn’t be president without the very judiciary he is now threatening since it upheld his election when it was contested.
Miguna advised the president to use the law in dealing with individuals but not threating the whole judicial sytem since corruption is all over in this country including at State House where the president resides.
“These need to be dealt with in accordance with the law. Not through threats or extrajudicial means. Don’t listen to sycophants urging you to wield the sword. Those are autocratic enemies of the people. Restrain yourself. Don’t become a tyrant!” Miguna reacted.
Other leaders, advocates and civilians who reacted to President Ruto’s sentiments include: Omwanza Ombati, Gabriel Oguda, Ahmednasir Abdullahi, Gabrile Dolan, Nahashon Kimemia among others.
By Matildah Obaigwa
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