Deputy President William Ruto deviated from accepting responsibility for his boss, President Uhuru Kenyatta’s frustration with the Judiciary.
Speaking at the presidential debate at Catholic University on Tuesday, July 26, the DP stated that he met the former Chief Justice David Maraga and explained why Uhuru was angered by the Supreme Court’s decision to nullify the 2017 presidential election.
This was after he was asked about whether he respected the independence of the Judiciary and why the administration he served in disobeyed court orders. The Jubilee government was cited for disregarding rulings and undermining judges.
The DP, however, clarified that he demystified that Jubilee was hell-bent on opposing the Judiciary. Ruto did not explain when or how he met with Maraga, but the context of his speech indicated that it was after the judges annulled their election victory.
“I had the occasion to have a one-on-one with Maraga and I told him about an incident that happened when I first came to Parliament in 1998. I told him how I met Senior Counsel Paul Muite who gave me advice that stuck in my mind since then.
“Muite said that when you support a government, you also criticise it when it goes wrong. Part of supporting a government is pointing out when you think they are not doing the right thing,” Ruto explained.
He argued that he was at the forefront of respecting the independence of the Judiciary despite himself terming the 2017 ruling against Uhuru a coup against the will of the electorate.
“I am an ardent believer in the independence of the Judiciary. When the Judiciary nullified our win, I went and pursued my boss to run again. In as much as we criticised that judgement, we obeyed the dictates of the Judiciary,” Ruto stated.
Maraga and Uhuru had a frosty relationship, with the former top judge blasting the executive for frustrating the Judiciary. Emeritus Chief Justice called for Uhuru’s impeachment for then declining to appoint 41 judges as recommended by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).
He also recommended the President dissolve the Parliament for not achieving the two-thirds gender rule.
Ruto pledged to enforce the gender third rule, and operationalise the Judiciary Fund which Maraga lamented was cut as punishment for ruling against Uhuru.
“There are proposals that will require constitutional change and I have assembled a team of constitutional lawyers to have a framework in 90 days and within one year, the two-thirds gender rule will be implemented. Having women leaders would actually enrich our governance and leadership as a nation.
“On the Judiciary Fund, the reason why Judiciary has been raising this issue over and over is that in as much as they have independence, financial matters are subject to other legislation. The Judiciary fund is supposed to draw resources directly from the consolidated fund. Once approved by Parliament that should be it,” Ruto stated.
He also pledged to respect all court orders. But first, he would look at all judgements entered against the government and develop a mechanism to ensure that within one year, they comply with all orders.
“We cannot continue with the situation where the government leads in disobeying orders. Even as we drive the country to obey court orders, we will lead from the front,” he stated.
With a likelihood that the 2022 presidential elections may be contested at the Supreme Court, Ruto affirmed that he would file an appeal in the event that he loses unfairly.
“I will accept the outcome of this election. If I will have any doubt, I will go to court.”
However, at a rally in Kiambu County on Saturday, July 15, he warned Raila not to underestimate him if he wins the election.
"You heard the President say that Raila wanted to cause problems. I am telling him that I am not Uhuru. I will not entertain you. This time, I will not allow you to swear yourself in. There will be no throwing of stones, there will no be demonstrations nor tibim or tialala.
"Once we finish with you, you will go home peacefully. If you need help, we have a wheelbarrow, and we will ferry you all the way to Bondo," the DP cautioned.
