President of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) Eric Theuri has called upon Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to provide concrete evidence supporting any claims linking judicial officers to corruption.
The call comes as a response to Gachagua’s announcement on Sunday, wherein he stated his intention to file a petition on Thursday seeking the removal of Justice Esther Maina from office
Gachagua asserted that Justice Maina abruptly pronounced his wealth as illicit gains, alleging that this action was intended to tarnish his reputation.
While speaking to one media outlet in the country, Theuri advised the Deputy President to present any allegations of corruption to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) instead of airing grievances in the public domain.
Theuri further criticized the Executive, contending that its consistent targeting of the Judiciary is diminishing the autonomy of independent institutions and posing a threat to the nation’s democracy.
“At this juncture, we are witnessing an exceedingly aggressive Executive, a somewhat passive Parliament, and a Judiciary struggling to assert its authority amidst challenging circumstances,” he said.
Against the backdrop of escalated criticisms from President William Ruto directed towards the Judiciary, alleging infiltration by corrupt individuals, a contentious dispute has unfolded. Ruto asserts that these purportedly corrupt individuals within the Judicial system played a pivotal role in the court’s decision to prohibit the imposition of the Housing Levy—a crucial element in the realization of his ambitious Housing project.
In response to Ruto’s allegations, Chief Justice Martha Koome has refuted his claims, advising him and leaders associated with the Kenya Kwanza movement to channel their grievances through the appropriate constitutional channels for proper adjudication.
