Azimio leader Raila Odinga has threatened to stage mass protests following President William Ruto’s sustained attacks on the Judiciary.
Speaking during the burial of ODM Migori chairman Philip Makabong’o on Friday, January 12, the ODM leader maintained that Ruto was intimidating the Judiciary.
Raila told mourners that Ruto’s sustained attacks threatened the 2010 promulgated constitution and the independence of the Judiciary.
To protect the independence of the institution, the opposition leader threatened to lead a march into Nairobi Central Business District to protest the onslaught against judges and magistrates.
“You can see the orchestrated campaigns to intimidate and blackmail the courts. We want to tell the judges and the magistrates not to be cowed,” Raila stated.
“We together with the millions of Kenyans are behind you and we will defend you. If it will take a one million-man march into Nairobi, we will do it in defence of the constitution and the Judiciary,” he added.
His sentiments came after the Head of State vowed to soldier on with his plans to reform the Judiciary. He accused some judicial officers of sabotaging his development agendas including the Affordable Housing scheme and social healthcare plan.
Responding to Ruto’s claims, Chief Justice Martha Koome dared him to table evidence supporting his claims.
“We are ready to process any complaint against any judge or judicial officer who is implicated in corruption or any other act of misconduct. However, such complaint must be lodged and processed in the manner prescribed by the Constitution. Days are gone when officers were hounded out of office through name-calling,” she stated.
