Narok Senator Ledama Olekina has thrown his support behind the Judiciary, urging President William Ruto to cease ‘intimidating’ the independent arm of the government.
In a statement on his X account on Friday, January 5, Olekina noted that the Judiciary’s role is to administer justice in line with the Constitution.
“I stand with the Judiciary of Kenya. William Ruto stop intimidating the Judiciary; it’s an independent arm of government whose mandate is to deliver justice in line with the Constitution and other laws,” Olekina asserted.
He also asserted that President Ruto was being influenced by the IMF and the World Bank on his policies.
While addressing city lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi, Olekina did not mince words as he criticised him for aligning himself with President Ruto instead of standing in solidarity with the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) to uphold the constitution.
“Ahmednasir my Abti (maternal uncle), you are an advocate of the high court; you must defend the Constitution of Kenya and not bite the hand that feeds you. If the IMF and the World Bank want to destroy Kenya through Ruto’s retrogressive policies, the only hope we have as a country is not the Parliament I serve in, but the Kenyan Judiciary,” Olekina said.
LSK to hold demos against Ruto
Olekina’s sentiments come hot on the heels of Ruto’s pledge to defy court orders that hinder his projects, especially the affordable housing projects.
LSK President Eric Theuri declared plans to hold protests against President William Ruto’s criticisms of the Judiciary.
During a press conference on January 2, Theuri announced that advocates and legal practitioners would wear purple ribbons in the nationwide peaceful demonstrations to show their support for the Judiciary and the rule of law.
Theuri urged Ruto to retract his statements, expressing concern that the President’s remarks posed a threat to the rule of law, setting a negative precedent.
He reminded Ruto that the same courts had upheld his election and, at another time, nullified it, emphasizing the need to avoid undermining the Judiciary.
“We’re concerned as LSK that we begin the year with a dark cloud hovering around the justice system following remarks by the President. Those remarks are a threat to the rule of law…we want the President to retract or else they will send very bad signals. We remind the President that the same courts upheld his election based on impartiality and at one time nullified another. The President should refrain from undermining the Judiciary,” Theuri said.
Challenging Ruto to present evidence of corruption to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) rather than making unsupported claims, Theuri argued that attacking the Judiciary outside established legal channels indicated an autocratic governance style.
“We call upon the President of Kenya to avail evidence of corruption to JSC. When a hyena wants to eat its children, it starts telling them that they smell like sheep,” the LSK boss said.
He called for the President to demonstrate proof of corruption to the JSC, criticizing the attacks on the Judiciary as undermining its independence.
Theuri questioned the implications of the President’s refusal to obey court orders on an ordinary person seeking justice in court.
