Kenyans suffer as leaders trade blame and cry of betrayal

Chief Justice Martha Koome and President William Ruto during a past event. [Collins Kweyu, Standard] The blame game pitting the President, the Judiciary, and the opposition over who dropped the ball in service delivery has exposed the stark reality that Kenyans are on their own amid the surging cost of living. President William Ruto has sustained a scathing attack on the opposition and the Judiciary for what he terms as a well-orchestrated ploy by both parties to sabotage his development agenda. Ruto is adamant that the implementation of his manifesto, which championed issues such as Universal Health Coverage and Affordable Housing, was being thwarted by the two parties. In his New Year's speech, President Ruto tore into the opposition accusing it of jeopardising government's agenda. Ruto claimed the opposition was derailing the delivery of public programmes at the expense of the electorate. "There is nothing wrong with challenging policy and holding government to account and, in fact, the national interest is best safeguarded in an environment defined by the competition of progressive ideas, where a good proposal gives way to a better one," he said. The president then warned that, "...when a politician neglects the boundaries of democratic competition: that opposing policy does not permit undermining the nation or sabotaging the national interest or the welfare of the people." And a day later, the Head of State continued the onslaught on the Judiciary which he accused of being a cartel that had teamed up with a few individuals to stifle the government agenda and even declared that he would ignore court orders on his projects. "It is a sabotage plan by a few individuals who want to personally continue benefitting from programmes like the defunct NHIF, which was losing almost half of the funds to cartels in hospitals and fake doctors," said Ruto. His sentiments however attracted the ire of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) which has now announced mass protests from next week and dared the President to table evidence of corruption in the Judiciary. "We remind the President that the same courts upheld his own election based on impartiality and at one time nullified another. The President should refrain from undermining the Judiciary," said LSK president Eric Theuri. Chief Justice Martha Koome further termed Ruto's decree to ignore court orders as setting the stage for anarchy and an affront to the right to access to justice for many Kenyans. "The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has therefore noted with concern that honourable judges and judicial officers have been subjected to public criticism and vilification for issuing court orders that are perceived to be contrary to State orders and policies," Justice Koome said in a statement. Azimio la Umoja coalition leader Raila Odinga has also threatened mass protests across the country, accusing the President of trying to hijack the Judiciary by intimidating judges and magistrates not to hear cases against his policies. "It remains our position to this day that disobeying court rulings is a sure path to chaos and the collapse of a nation. If there was any doubt about the malicious intent of the Kenya Kwanza regime in relation to the Constitution, Ruto's attack on the Judiciary removes all doubt," stated Raila. The former premier has also been adamant that the attack on Judiciary was a diversionary tactic by the government of the day which has been unable to cure ills such as the high cost of living and over taxation. The opposition leader piled blame on the Head of State for the weakening shilling, mass unemployment and a battered economy, further accusing him of not fulfilling his campaign promises. Professor Gitile Naituli avers that the fight between the Judiciary, opposition and Head of State will only disenfranchise the electorate. "If the President's policies are being challenged, it is because they are not meeting the set standards by the Constitution. He (Ruto) should understand that an attempt to cast aspersions on the court is dangerous to Kenyans given that it is a key avenue that they use to hold government to account," said Naituli. He also took a swipe at the opposition, noting that even as it seeks on capitalising on the blunders of government, its revolt should only be fuelled by the interests of the public and not selfish gains. "The opposition should also refrain from accusing the government unfairly. While it is their business to challenge policy, they should first seek views from the public and ensure that the policies that are beneficial to Kenyans are implemented as opposed to the blanket condemnation of the government agenda," added the Professor. Governance consultant Tom Mboya said, "Ruto's is a dangerous precedent to set. It is very unfortunate for the President to malign the Judiciary without providing any evidence or following due process through the JSC." On his part, lawyer and Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah castigated the President's outburst on the Judiciary noting that any attempt to govern this country contrary to the law will be strongly resisted. "The Kenya Kwanza manifesto, which propelled President Ruto to power, was not a referendum to amend the Constitution. His election did not, therefore, amend the Constitution to remove the checks and balances therein. Irrespective of how many people voted for it, the President is free to implement his coalition's manifesto but strictly within the confines of the Constitution," said Omtatah.

Kenyans suffer as leaders trade blame and cry of betrayal

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