‘You've crossed the line and we will not allow it!’ Raila slams Ruto on threats to Judiciary

Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition party leader Raila Odinga has come out guns blazing to castigate President William Ruto over his recent threats and corrupt accusations against the Judiciary.

Mr. Odinga, who addressed the press in Mombasa on Wednesday, termed the outburst by the President on Tuesday as “unacceptable,” terming it a sign of an “impending absolute dictatorship” in the nation.

The seemingly enraged opposition leader recalled an era in previous regimes where he said the Judiciary had been captured to follow the whims of the Executive, as he vowed to lead a resistance against attacks on the judicial system.

“In other words, Ruto wants to establish an absolute dictatorship. Kenyans know we have been here before. We have seen days when judges heard cases in the dead of the night, way past official working hours and sent opponents of the State to jail. Kenyans know we have seen days when judges got transferred, sacked or, even got poisoned for delivering rulings that did not favour the State,” he said.

“The current level of political and personal attacks on the Judiciary by Mr Ruto is therefore completely unacceptable. Ruto has crossed the line and we will not allow it.”

According to the Azimio chief, the utterances by the Head of State serve to intimidate the Judiciary so that judges can always rule in favour of the administration.

“This is about where Ruto wishes to take Kenya and what it means for Kenyans. Having captured Parliament, Ruto now wants to intimidate, subdue and capture the Judiciary. He wants Judges not to hear cases against his policies, dismiss such cases or always rule in his favour,” he stated.

Mr. Odinga further accused the President of betraying the Judiciary a year after the same institution upheld his election victor, thereby handing him keys to the kingdom.

He referred to the Head of State as “the biggest political beneficiary of judicial decisions in Kenya's history,” adding that despite the Judiciary ruling against Azimio in the presidential election petition, they still chose to respect the court orders, as should Ruto.

“Azimio complained and still holds its position that no justice was done in 2022 but we have at every corner stood unwavering in our respect for the Judiciary, its judges and decisions,” Mr. Odinga noted.

“Ruto’s entire political career has been saved by the Judiciary… After executing a civilian coup in the election of 2022 and receiving backing from the Judiciary in the illegality, Ruto has now turned upon the institution he deceptively seduced with false assurances that he had credentials in the rule of law.”

The former premier went on to fault Ruto for accusing the Judiciary of corruption, reiterating that it is the Executive he heads that is at the core of graft with the country allegedly losing billions in fraudulent schemes orchestrated by his Cabinet and still remaining silent.

Mr. Odinga cited the acquittal of suspects in the Arror and Kimwarer dams case and similar high-profile cases such as Ksh.16.5 edible oils scandal, the Ksh.17 billion fuel scam, the duty-free rice and maize, the KCPE exam printing scandal and the Ksh.3.7 billion insecticide-treated mosquito nets deal.

Consequently, he implored the Judiciary not to be cowed but to remain steadfast to protect the rule of law, adding that his faction would stand firm and stop the President in his tracks to muzzle the legal arm of government.

“We appeal to the Judiciary to stand firm in defence of professionalism, independence, the rule of law and constitutionalism. In this Judiciary, I see products of the old struggle against a vicious dictatorship. I trust that they will not allow judicial proceedings and decisions to be determined by Ruto’s tantrums,” he said.

“I wish to remind Mr. Ruto that in another era not too long ago, we stopped a dictatorship that was more entrenched both locally and abroad. We will stop Ruto too.”

President Ruto on Tuesday lashed at the Judiciary saying beneficiaries of graft had teamed up with corrupt judicial officers to deny Kenyans development, and that his administration would stop judicial impunity by corrupt judicial officers at all costs.

Referring to two of his pet projects in Universal Health Care and affordable housing temporarily stopped by the courts, he said his government will not allow this to continue.

“Judicial impunity must stop in Kenya...we will stop it..ati sasa hii barabara mahakama imesema tusijenge...tungoje Judiciary mpaka ituambie tujenge.... bwana PS weka pesa kwa hii barabara tuanze kazi,” he said then.