Raila now blows hot and cold in debate on judicial impasse

ODM leader Raila Odinga addresses residents of Wagai in Siaya County on May 30, 2021. [Collins Oduor, Standard]

After sitting on the matter for a week, opposition leader Raila Odinga emerged yesterday to pronounce himself on the ongoing tiff between the Judiciary and Executive, blowing hot and cold at the same time, and giving a pass to his handshake partner, President Uhuru Kenyatta.

In a statement widely shared, Raila sidestepped calls on President Kenyatta to appoint six judges recruited by Judicial Service Commission (JSC), instead asking him to table whatever evidence he has to the commission justifying his refusal to appoint them.

Raila said Kenyans deserve to know the reason behind the president’s reluctance, a day after Chief Justice Martha Koome reiterated her earlier call on Uhuru to appoint the six. JSC position, also extolled by various other bodies in the justice sector, has been that the president must appoint all judges handed to him.