Deputy President William Ruto on Thursday, June 10, supported both Chief Justice David Maraga and his counterpart Willy Mutunga in his take on upholding the constitution.
In a veiled attack on President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga, Ruto stated that the constitution had given all officers enough powers to carry out their work.
Paraphrasing Mutunga's letter to Uhuru, the DP added that if a constitutional office holder was unsatisfied with the powers allocated to his office, it was for that person to change and not for the supreme law to be adjusted.
Ruto, who was speaking to Kiambu leaders from his Karen home, reiterated that the constitution needed to be respected and the rule of law adhered to.
"Our friends believe that the Constitution and institutions created by the Constitution and the law should facilitate those in power to drive their agenda and if their agenda is in conflict with the constitution, they believe the constitution should be changed to fit into their agenda," he began.
The DP made it clear that he was not in agreement with his boss, President Kenyatta, who has recently been accused of usurping powers belonging to independent decisions such as the JSC and the courts.
"If that is so, it is not the constitution that should be changed. It is what they are pursuing, that is a fundamental difference," the DP added.
The DP's sentiments echoed those of Mutunga who wrote a letter to the president saying that resignation was an option for all public servants who did not follow the constitution to the latter.
"Constitution donates to them, or find the exercising of those powers annoyingly inconvenient, they have no business continuing to occupy those offices," he stated.
Maraga, on the other hand, accused Uhuru of being responsible for the operational crisis that rocked the judiciary and hampered service delivery for failing to appoint the 40 judges.
The immediate former CJ went as far as to call on Parliament to impeach President Kenyatta whom he indicated would be remembered: "for his disregard for the rule of law".
