President Ruto Grants Judiciary Ksh2 Billion More

President William Ruto and CJ Martha Koome during thelaunched the Annual State of the Judiciary and Administration of Justice (SOJAR) report on November 4,2022
President William Ruto and CJ Martha Koome during the launch of the Annual State of the Judiciary and Administration of Justice (SOJAR) report on November 4, 2022.
Martha Koome

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, on Thursday, December 1, revealed that the Treasury will disburse Ksh2 billion to the Judiciary in December 2022. 

Gachagua reiterated President William Ruto's promise, issued immediately after the head of state was sworn in. Ruto assured Chief Justice Martha Koome that he would operationalise the Judiciary fund.

"Our government will continue to support independent institutions.

"I want to give an undertaking to the people of Kenya that President William Ruto and I and the rest of us will not pick a call, summon a judge and or any magistrate, and ask them to rule in one way or another," Gachagua confirmed.

Rigathi Judiciary
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua addressing Judicial officers in Kilifi on Thursday, December 1, 2022.
Twitter/Rigathi Gachagua

On September 13, President further pledged to review the Judiciary budget by Ksh2 billion annually.

"We have every intention to see the judiciary work efficiently. We appointed judges, sworn in others," the President promised.

To demonstrate further goodwill to the Judiciary, he appointed judicial officers who had been rejected by former President Uhuru Kenyatta

Meanwhile, while meeting judicial officials in Kilifi County, Gachagua noted that the Kenya Kwanza government would not use the criminal justice system and the courts to silence its critics.

According to Gachagua, the current administration was not interested in weaponising the justice system in Kenya against individuals.

"We must leave that to the court. I want to confirm that our administration does not intend to weaponise the criminal justice system to settle politics.

"We shall manage politics ourselves. We want the criminal justice system to exercise judicial independence and deliver justice to the people of Kenya," Gachagua confirmed.

The deputy president equally dismissed claims that their administration captured the Judiciary by increasing its budgetary allocation to Ksh2 billion annually and by appointing judges rejected by Uhuru.

"We have been accused of capturing the Judiciary. I don't think anybody can capture the Judiciary. If it was possible, Dr Ruto wouldn't have been the President of Kenya today," Gachagua assured.

He also defended the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), noting that the institution refused to be arm twisted but stayed true to its mandate.

"Our government will not attempt to use the criminal justice system to deal with its critics and those who may have different opinions from what we have. That is our undertaking to Kenyans," Gachagua underlined. 

Rithai Mwilu
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua while meeting Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu and Judicial officials in Kilifi on Thursday, December 1, 2022.
Twitter/Rigathi Gachagua
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