President Uhuru Kenyatta on December 12, while at Nyayo Stadium, issued a stern warning to legislators who have in earlier instances represented accused persons in court.
In his Jamhuri Day speech, Kenyatta accused elected leaders of having a conflict of interests, claiming that this would lead to laws being made and used unjustly.
Senators Kipchumba Mukomen, Mutula Kilonzo Junior and James Orengo have in the past represented people accused of corruption.
“Our constitutional order is a jealous one. It demands that a public officer serves no other master but it.
“It is not right for legislators who make laws in Parliament and move forward to represent accused persons in a court that will use the same laws to issue a judgement,” remarked the president.
He further described the representation of accused people by legislators as a way of intimidating judicial officers to issue judgements that favour their clients.
“The presence of parliamentarians can lead to lack of authority of the judges issuing the orders. This may lead to judgements that are threatened and that may lack the authority needed.
“You either serve the public in your role as an MP or senator or resign to go serve as a private practitioner, not both. You cannot be elected at the national and county level but still be a practising lawyer,” he continued.
The president issued the same warning to othr public servants warning them of interfering with public service as they pursue private roles.
“This applies to doctors, engineers and all other officers too who have taken over public work,”
“No one has been forced to hold public office and therefore when they are given the role, they need to be serious on it,” added the president.
Further, Kenyatta directed Attorney General Kihara Kariuki to draft a law to fix the loophole exploited by politicians, which will aid in defining when a conflict of interest happens.
“I have ordered the attorney general to move to parliament and present the law on Conflict of Interest that intends to curtail public workers from attending to other private duties that would affect their service provision. This law has gone through consultations,” remarked president Kenyatta.
