They Pay Lawyers: Ruto Turns On Salaried Kenyans In Row With Judiciary

President William Ruto on Sunday, January 7 claimed that a few individuals with jobs earning them monthly salaries were paying judicial officers in exchange for issuing rulings stopping his pet projects, including the Affordable Housing Programme, whose suspension triggered his row with the Judiciary.

Speaking during a church service in AIC Sugutek, Soy Constituency in Uasin Gishu County, Ruto reiterated his firm stance on the programme, which he said would employ over one million youth, thus dealing with the unemployment crisis while addressing the housing challenge in Kenya.

He complained that the individuals with deep pockets were influencing legal officers to sabotage the program through court rulings.

President William Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto attending church service at AIC Sugutek, Soy Constituency, Uasin Gishu County on Sunday, January 7, 2023. /PCS

“I will stand firm in creating job opportunities. Few people who have jobs, rush to court to stop our projects,” he lamented.

“You pay lawyers and judges. Those who cannot afford to pay lawyers or bribe judges, I will stand with them. I am going to be their advocate.” 

Ruto added that remaining quiet while the affordable housing programme was being interfered with would amount to him abandoning his constitutional duty.

He thus urged other leaders to join hands to create job opportunities for Kenyans, saying they should avoid unnecessary competition.

"There is no competition between the executive and the judiciary or legislature. We must work together for the benefit of millions of Kenyans who pay taxes, people who look up to us," he added.

Ruto also remarked that a few people in the Judiciary were derailing the affordable housing programme because they did not know the pain of being jobless. 

His deputy, Rigathi Gachagua on his part, escalated Kenya Kwanza's attacks on the Judiciary by accusing it of issuing constant rulings that have ruined government operations, particularly those that halted the State's Affordable Housing and Social Health Fund.

The country's second-in-command argued that most judicial officers had mortgages, housing allowances, and health insurance which he used as a basis to question why the courts have been issuing rulings which he argued have been frustrating hustlers.

"Why are these people stopping the President from helping ordinary Kenyans without houses or jobs? These judges should know that they are also Kenyans and they should not live in Eutopia," he criticised while speaking in Nandi County during the Tinderet Barngetuny Mountain Run on the same day.

According to Gachagua, the judges should take into consideration the current state of the country, arguing that Kenyans right now want the government to implement the Housing Levy to create affordable houses and jobs for the youth.

He slammed the Judiciary for failing to take note of Kenyans' needs in their numerous rulings against the government.

"Somebody must oversee the Judiciary, we must hold them to account and ask the tough questions. They cannot sabotage our manifesto without us asking questions," he demanded.

Since Tuesday, President Ruto has been under fire from both the Law Society of Kenya and Chief Justice Martha Koome for his attacks on the Judiciary and hint of disobeying court orders.

LSK in particular threatened to stage nationwide demonstrations should Ruto refuse to withdraw his remarks.