Otiende Amollo, a member of parliament from Rarieda, deemed Monday's meeting between Chief Justice Martha Koome and President William Ruto to be regrettable, pointless, and inappropriately scheduled.
Ruto called a meeting of the heads of the three branches of government at the State House in Nairobi to settle the dispute between the executive and judicial branches.
It came after Ruto had publicly attacked the Koome-led judiciary, claiming it was undermining the goals of his government following court rulings that had put a stop to several projects the Kenya Kwanza government was planning to carry out.
He even promised to disobey court orders, claiming they are driven by "judicial impunity."
Did you read this?
With Chief Justice @CJMarthaKoome, Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu, Speaker of the National Assembly @HonWetangula, Attorney General @HonJBMuturi, Solicitor General Shadrack Mose, Interior Cabinet Secretary @KindikiKithure and Council of Governors and Kirinyaga Governor… pic.twitter.com/sRhKpgvGzh
— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) January 22, 2024
However, according to Amollo, the modifications declared following the meeting could have been made without President Ruto's assistance.
After the meeting, the State House declared that the legislature and the executive branch would support the judiciary's request for an additional budgetary allocation. This request included funds to finish the vehicle leasing program to meet the judiciary's transportation needs and provisions for hiring 25 judges for the High Court and 11 judges for the Court of Appeal.
However, the Rarieda MP asserts that parliament is the body that approves budgets and appoints judges to the nation's highest courts.
CJ Koome and her deputy, Philomena Mwilu, were also present. MP called the meeting "interfering with the functioning and the independence of the judiciary" and expressed his hope that they would both boycott it.
At @StateHouseKenya, Nairobi, during a leadership meeting of the three arms of Government. pic.twitter.com/VZRMiC66Qf
— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) January 22, 2024
According to State House spokesperson Hussein Mohamed, the meeting's goal on Monday was to create anti-corruption strategies, improve accountability, and expedite service delivery for Kenyan citizens. Attendees included Speaker Moses Wetangula of the National Assembly, Attorney General Justin Muturi, and CoG chairperson Anne Waiguru.
He said that every branch of the government is committed to working harder to maintain justice, fight corruption, and enhance service delivery.
In 30 days, every branch of government agreed to submit their ideas to a forum presided over by Koome at the National Council of the Administration of Justice (NCAJ).
According to the State House, Ruto, Muturi, and Koome they restated their dedication to preserving the rule of law, institutional autonomy, and unwavering regard for judicial rulings.
