Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Eric Theuri has claimed that unknown individuals have been threatening lawyers representing billionaire Jaswant Rai and other sugar sector tycoons.
Addressing the press in Nairobi on Tuesday, Theuri insisted that the Law Society of Kenya will stand with the lawyers and urged them to ensure proper channels are followed in the case.
"There have been attempts to intimidate the lawyers who were handling these cases on behalf of the parties that are before the court," stated the LSK President.
"As the LSK, we remind them that they took oath to deliver justice without fear or favour. We assure them that LSK will support them in the event that they are intimidated as they undertake their duties."
Flanked by HAKI Africa boss Hussein Khalid, the society further challenged the Head of State to issue an apology over his remarks of the case.
They argued that Ruto should let the court take its course and refrain from making roadside statements implicating individuals in criminal activities.
"The demand that we want to make to the President is to not only withdraw and apologise for those very unfortunate remarks but to also allow the due process of law to take its course to its logical conclusion," he added.
"To interfere in those processes (of the law) before the court has made its determination is to undermine the rule of law and the authority of the court as an independent arbitar."
The fury emerged from a statement the Head of State made during his tour of Western Kenya giving cartels associated with the sugar sector an ultimatum to leave the country or meet their maker.
"There are cartels there. I have told them to leave. The company belongs to the people and we shall streamline it. There is no case there. If they want a fight, they should leave Kenya or I will jail them or they should go to heaven," he stated to the chagrin of leaders allied to the opposition as well as law scholars.
In his statement, Theuri also accused Ruto of making a U-turn over his promise to fight a rogue squad within the police service allegedly involved in extrajudicial killings and forced disappearances.
The society indicated that under its advisorship, the Head of State disbanded the force immediately he took the reins
"What we are concerned about is that he has done an absolute 360 turn. He is no longer keen to seek accountability. On the other hand, he is more than willing and ready to use the same methods to achieve whatever aims that they have," Theuri lamented.
"We are making a passionate appeal to the President to observe their powers and exercise their powers within the four corners of the Constitution.
Ruto's death threats to sugar tycoons came a few hours after Rai was kidnapped by unknown men and later released. A CEO of a local bank accused of aiding Rai in laundering money was also arrested by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officers.
Rai was abducted on Friday under mysterious circumstances and released on Sunday evening. President Ruto openly claimed Rai was frustrating the government's plan to revitalise sugar companies in the Western regions.
