Lawyer Danstan Omari to Judiciary: Be cautious of Executive 'goodies'

The Judiciary has been challenged to be cautious with the "goodies" being offered by the Executive, else it may end up being compromised.

Renowned city lawyer Danstan Omari says despite being early days to judge President William Ruto’s administration, the Judiciary should be careful to remember that their role is to administer justice to all whether they support the government of the day or not.

Speaking to journalists in Thika, the lawyer said the promises that President Ruto offered the Judiciary during his inauguration ceremony  were telling.

"We want to congratulate President William Ruto's move to appoint the six judges. We want to appreciate Ruto's move to increase the Judiciary fund. But if the Judiciary plays to bed too much with the Executive, are we likely to see a Judiciary that was there under the old Constitution, when it was a department of the Executive? If the judiciary gets everything that they are asking, will they have the moral capacity to give orders against government. So we are starting to feel that the Executive wants to go in bed with the Judiciary," the lawyer poses.

Ruto pledges to Judiciary

During his inauguration speech on Tuesday, September 13, President Ruto said he will appoint the six judges that were rejected by his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta in June last year.

True to his word, Ruto appointed the judges - Weldon Korir, Aggrey Muchelule, George Odunga and Joel Ngugi to the Court of Appeal and Justices Evans Makori and Elizabeth Omange to the Environment and Lands Court - on the same day and on Wednesday, September 14 afternoon, he presided over their swearing in at State House, Nairobi.

The president also assured the Judiciary that he will increase its annual budgetary allocation by KSh3 billion for the next five years.

The lawyer also poked holes on the practicability of Ruto’s government fulfilling the many pre-election campaign pledges saying he need support from all players to uplift the country’s living standards.

"There are things that are purely administrative, there is no monetary aspect in them. For example creation of Cabinet post for diaspora and corporates, that is okay. He can do that by close of business today. But there are administrative quiestions that must be dealt with under the law for example; procurement, tendering and government bureaucracy, these issues must be within the law.

"That is one of the biggest challenge that President William Ruto's government is going to face," he says.

Citing government's financial constraints, Omari said Ruto may not be able to meet the over ambitious expectations of his supporters.

“The government needs to widen its tax net and fill corruption loopholes to be able to accelerate development,” he said.