Chief Justice Martha Koome has condemned President Ruto's attacks on the judiciary, saying he is setting the country up for chaos.
Ruto has waged war on the Koome-led judicial arm of government, accusing it of obstructing his administration's goals. He has even pledged to defy court rulings that he claims are driven by "judicial impunity."
His deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, has also joined him, announcing on Sunday that he wants Justice Esther Maina removed from office. He accuses her of tarnishing his reputation by unceremoniously declaring his money to be the proceeds of crime in a previous court verdict.
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During a Judicial Service Commission (JSC) media briefing on Monday, the top justice stated that It is regrettable that the executive and legislative leadership have threatened not to obey court orders in recent public declarations. Adding that these threats and declarations are highly dangerous and constitute a massive assault on the Constitution, the rule of law, and the very stability of the nation, they have the potential to lead to chaos and anarchy in Kenya.
She cautioned that the country would face a constitutional crisis if the Kenya Kwanza administration disobeyed court decisions.
Among the court orders that have enraged President Ruto is the suspension of a new social health scheme, the imposition of a housing levy, the privatization of 11 government parastatals, the implementation of the Maisha Namba project, and the privatization of the Mombasa and Lamu ports, among other projects that the Kenya Kwanza government intends to implement.
However, according to Koome, decisions taken by a judge while carrying out a judicial function cannot be challenged unless they are reviewed, judicially reviewed, or appealed.
Koome stated that corruption or misconduct in the judiciary is a top priority, stating the grounds and due process for removing any judiciary official suspected of wrongdoing.
