Busia Senator Omtatah dare president Ruto substantiate judges’ bribery claim, disparage remarks
Busia Senator and human rights crusader Anderw Okiya Omtatah Okoiti disparaged president William Ruto’s judicial bribery assertions in cases related to the Affordable Housing Levy and the Social Insurance Fund.
Addressing the media earlier today, Omtatah fought back accusations that he and other litigants compromised and colluded with judges to rule in their favour in the matter of implementation of affordable Housing Levy and new Social Health Insurance Fund.
However, while acknowledging the president’s right, like any other citizen, to be heard and protest, Omtatah challenged him to utilize his access to intelligence resources to unearth instances of corruption within the judiciary.
“I look him straight in the eye and challenge him to table the evidence of bribe-taking against any judge or bribe-giving he has against any litigant and let the chips fall where they may. Let the truth come to light.” Omtatah said.
There is mounting outrage directed at the Head of State from the Judiciary, opposition and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) who have warned he risks becoming a tyrant.
Casting doubt on Ruto’s claims of judicial corruption, Omtatah suggested that the allegations were a strategic maneuver to intimidate the judiciary into favouring the President’s pet projects.
“It appears that the President lacks concrete evidence against those he has accused of bribery. If he did, he would have handed the matter over to law enforcement for action instead of addressing it publicly.” Omtatah remarked.
He went on to express his belief that the current state of affairs, precipitated by the President’s stance, is unsustainable.
The Senator called on the Head of State to abandon what he described as a “destructive path” reminiscent of the turmoil during the 2007/2008 post-election violence when confidence in the judiciary was severely eroded.
Omtatah also implored the president to apologize to the judiciary and seek forgiveness from the diligent, public-spirited Kenyans and institutions that have challenged his pet projects in court.
“He cannot afford to be intoxicated by power and behave recklessly. The same applies to his assertion that he will flout court orders or, in essence, suspend the constitution and govern by executive decree.” Omtatah warned.
According to Omtatah, the President’s attack on the judiciary is merely an attempt to shift blame for the failures of his ill-conceived and lacklustre policies onto third parties.
“It is clear that any attempt to govern this country outside the boundaries of the law will face staunch resistance. The President should not underestimate this. Regardless of the circumstances, the serpent’s eggs will not be allowed to hatch.” He said.
Chief Justice Martha Koome who chairs the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has asked judges and judicial officers to remain firm and discharge their duties while urging anyone aggrieved with their decisions to appeal or lodge a complaint with the commission.
President Ruto, in his address on Tuesday, stated that his administration would counter what he referred to as “judicial activism and impunity” hampering the government’s development agenda.
He stressed the importance of respecting the judiciary’s independence while expressing the need for a national dialogue to address perceived judicial misconduct and settle political disputes.
Recently, the High Court halted the enforcement and implementation of the Social Health Insurance Fund Act 2023, the Primary Health Care Act 2023, and the Digital Health Act 2023 pending a legal challenge to their legality.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) obtained court orders preventing the government’s planned rollout of universal health coverage as outlined in these laws.
Despite the President’s announcement of the rollout in January, the High Court suspended the planned implementation of the Social Health Insurance Act 2023 by the Ministry of Health until February 2024.
