President Willaim Ruto on Monday, January 22 convened a meeting with Chief Justice Martha Koome and the leadership of the Legislature at State House.
In a statement, State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohammed said the meeting deliberated on building approaches to fight corruption, enhance accountability, and facilitate the efficient and seamless delivery of services to the people of Kenya.
The three arms of government agreed that corruption is an existential threat to the nation which has permeated the three arms of Government undermining the country’s development potential and sabotaging transformation.
President Ruto also agreed with the Judiciary and Legislature leadership that each of the three arms of Government will commit to enhancing service delivery, fighting corruption, and promoting the overall administration of justice to enhance accountability.
“The Executive, Legislature and the Judiciary agree to individually develop policies, guidelines, regulations, and legislative proposals to achieve the objectives of fighting corruption, improving service delivery and enhancing institutional accountability of all arms of Government to the people of Kenya,” read the statement in part.
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They also agreed each arm of government to submit proposals made to a forum of the National Council of the Administration of Justice (NCAJ) convened by the Chief Justice within 30 days.
“This forum will provide a roadmap for the immediate, medium-term, and long-term measures to be undertaken,” Hussein stated.
The Executive and the Legislature further agreed to support the Judiciary's request for additional budgetary support for the recruitment of an additional 25 Judges of the High Court, the recruitment of 11 new Judges of the Court of Appeal and to facilitate the judiciary's transport needs.
“The Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary commit to perform their functions in a manner that respects, promotes and enhances the rule of law, institutional independence, and respect for court decisions,” Hussein added.
Azimio leader Raila Odinga earlier slammed CJ Koome for meeting President Ruto at State House saying the Executive is compromising and holding the Judiciary hostage.
The former Prime Minister termed the Koome’s move irresponsible noting that the meeting should have been held on a neutral ground.
“Chief Justice, the head of Judiciary has gone for a meeting with the President in State House this is in our view is an irresponsible move, if there is supposed to be a dialogue, the dialogue should be held in a neutral place, State House is the seat of the Executive that is where the President resides,” said Raila.
