NAIROBI, KENYA: The parliamentary leadership has called for mutual respect and coordination in discharging constitutional duties by the three arms of government.
In particular, the legislature took issues with the judiciary, warning that continued interference in its legislative mandate will amount to judicial dictatorship.
Though Parliament affirmed that its oversight role is not controlled and must not be controlled, it maintains that its mandate is provided in law and therefore urged the judiciary to keep off its affairs by observing the doctrine of separation of powers.
National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi while giving a Public talk at the University of Nairobi (UoN) expressed concerns with the persistent interference by the judiciary in parliamentary proceedings.
The Speaker cited occasion where the judiciary has interfered with his operations, citing Division of Revenue Bill 2013 and retention of Embu governor Martin Wambora in office despite being impeached twice by the Senate.
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He stressed that no arm of government has the right to interfere with the mandate of the other as spelled out in the constitution.
"If people respect subjudice, then Parliament should be left to debate on its own without the courts issuing injunctions to stop the proceedings," said the Speaker.
He continued, "There will be divergent views by the respective arms of government but each institution should be left to undertake their businesses independently."
Muturi warned that if there is continuous interference by the Judiciary, the country will have judicial dictatorship, which is not health for a growing democracy.
