The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has confirmed its readiness to hold a peaceful demonstration against President William Ruto’s public attacks on the Judiciary. The protest is scheduled to hold on Friday, January 12, 2024.
The legal community released a statement on social media notifying Kenyans to join the protest to register their displeasure over President Ruto’s remarks about the country’s third arm of government, where he labelled them “corrupt”.
“Join the @LawSocietyofKe as we peacefully protest this Friday and reaffirm the commitment to defend the independence of the Judiciary and compliance with Court orders,” LSK said.
The protest, according LSK, will commence from 9:00am at the Supreme Court Grounds in Nairobi, and proceed along Parliament Road, and finally to the Office of the President.
The statement read in part:
“In light of the measures taken to ensure the security and safety of all participants, the LSK encourages your active participation in this crucial event. We urge members to turn up for this significant demonstration in large numbers.
“It is an opportunity for us to collectively voice our condemnation of statements undermining the Judiciary and to stand in solidarity with our esteemed colleagues.”
Last week, Eric Theuri, the Law association’s President urged President Ruto to retract his utterances against the court about defying orders.
Theuri accused Ruto attacking the independence of the judiciary and rule of law. He also said Ruto’s outbursts were a calculated attempt to set the people up against 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 undermine the judiciary. If the president says he can’t obey court orders what happens to a mama mboga in court seeking justice,” he said.
“Public incitement against the judiciary is not only detrimental to our constitutional fabric but also compromises the sanctity of our legal system,” he said.
President Ruto recently disclosed his plans to defy court orders to pause key government projects. He claimed that the judges had been bribed to “sabotage Kenya’s imminent transformation.”
Ruto had taken to X to lash out on the judiciary, attracting widespread criticism across the country and beyond. Ruto however maintained that his decision came from a place of commitment to protect Kenyans.
“Ahmednasir SC ,you warned me of sabotage by corrupt judicial officers. I told you there are many good officers in the judiciary and that we will root out the corrupt. We shall. Muite SC, the impunity of bribing judges so as not to derail, delay, or sabotage Kenya’s imminent transformation will never happen under my watch.
“Not a single cent will be used to bribe nobody. Mambo ya wafisadi wote ni yale nilisema…..” the President wrote.
