Of Isaac Ruto, Judicial Service Commission and party colours

President William Ruto presided over the swearing-in of the 15 newly-appointed judges of the Court of Appeal at State House Nairobi. [PCS]

The Constitution was designed with a deep awareness of history. It emerged from a past in which political power routinely reached into institutions meant to restrain it. For that reason, the Constitution paid particular attention to independent commissions, and especially to the Judicial Service Commission.

Article 249 was crafted to ensure that such bodies would not just be independent in form, but independent in substance and perception. It is against this constitutional architecture that the conduct of Isaac Ruto, Vice Chairperson of the Judicial Service Commission, must be judged.