Ruto, Koome reserve right to meet, Wetang'ula says amid criticism

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has dismissed critics of Monday's meeting between President William Ruto and Chief Justice Martha Koome, which aimed to quell tensions following attacks on the Judiciary on allegations including graft.

Wetang’ula accused these critics of hypocrisy, saying the three arms of government - the Executive, the Judiciary and the Legislature - will continue to meet to discuss matters of public concern, as they are all part of one government.

“The cynics making hypocritical statements against the Arms of Government Summit of February 22, 2024, are ignorant of the philosophy of the State. The three are arms of the same government and will meet, unapologetically,” he wrote on X on Wednesday.

Wetang’ula's remarks came as the opposition's Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance, lawyers and other parties gave their views of the meeting, with Azimio leader Raila Odinga saying Koome's decision to meet President Ruto was a sign of a compromised Judiciary. He said the talks should have taken place at a neutral location.

“The Chief Justice has gone for a meeting with the President at State House. This in our view is an irresponsible move. It shows that the judiciary has been held hostage by the Executive which is an unfortunate development,” Odinga said on Monday.

Law Society of Kenya Vice President Faith Odhiambo also dismissed the meeting, terming it an unsuitable forum to discuss the integrity of the Judiciary or the conduct of specific judges.

“To oblige to the President’s outburst compromises the work of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), infringes on the independence of the Judiciary, and is outright absurd,” Odhiambo said.

“The Chief Justice, among other roles, serves as the chairperson of the Judicial Service Commission, a constitutionally established body mandated to, among other things, oversee disciplinary action against judges and judicial officers. A meeting between the Chief Justice and the President is not a forum for consideration of the integrity of the Judiciary or conduct of judges and cannot fulfil these requirements."

Some supporters of the President, led by National Assembly majority leader Kimani Ichung’wa rubbished the criticism, arguing that the opposition to the meeting was rooted in the discomfort of people benefiting from corruption.

“This resistance seems more about self-preservation than a genuine concern for institutional independence," he said. “Emphasising the interdependence of our independent institutions, the statement calls for collective commitment to accountability and democracy. It underscores that collaboration strengthens our democracy, promoting transparency and cooperation for the benefit of all citizens,” Ichung’wa said.

Ruto met with Koome as well as Wetang’ula and other leaders to discuss how to fight increasing cases of corruption within government and in the public sector. The meeting followed an invitation from Koome to President Ruto for a meeting to discuss his concerns over claims of increasing cases of corruption in the courts and misconduct by some judges.

The CJ says the allegations of corruption are unfounded, as no evidence has been tabled, and that attacks on the Judiciary are setting up the country for chaos and anarchy.