Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has raised concerns about the state of the judiciary in Kenya, claiming that it has gone ‘rogue’ and needs to be tamed.
He therefore advised President William Ruto to ignore court decisions that allegedly aim to undermine his government.
According to Cherargei, the judiciary has been taken over by corrupt cartels, and justice is now available to the highest bidder.
“Our Judiciary has gone rogue and must be called to order. We are now in a country where Kenyans are saying why hire a lawyer if you can buy a judge,” Cherargei said.
Cherargei expressed his dissatisfaction
He stated that the judiciary has become a breeding ground for corruption.
He called for urgent action to address the situation.
Speaking in Eldoret, he announced his intention to spearhead reforms to the Judiciary Service Commission Act.
He said he will initiate a radical surgery of the judiciary to eradicate the alleged corruption cartels.
“We have a situation where court orders are now issued more easily than getting a tissue paper.
A judiciary full of cartels and Kenyans can no longer access justice,” Cherargei said.
The senator criticized the ease with which court orders are being issued, comparing it to getting a tissue paper.
He argued that access to justice has become increasingly difficult, as the judiciary is now controlled by cartels.
However,Cherargei emphasized the need for Chief Justice Martha Koome to acknowledge the deep-rooted problems within the Judiciary.
Cherargei stressed that while the principle of separation of powers should be respected,
the judiciary has exceeded its mandate and is serving unidentified interests.
He called for open investigations into the utilization of over Sh23 billion allocated to the judicature-
highlighting the importance of transparency and accountability.
In addition, Cherargei advocated for the establishment of the office of the Ombudsman to monitor and address any excesses within the judiciary.
He accused the judiciary of being manipulated –
where cartels and opposition activists frustrate the government programs.
However,the senator questioned the rationale behind judges issuing orders that impede plans aimed at benefiting Kenyans,
such as healthcare and housing initiatives.
Consequently,his call for investigations into alleged corruption cartels highlighting the need for transparency and accountability.
“We wonder how a sensible judge can issue orders stopping a healthcare plan or a housing plan that is to benefit Kenyans,” Cherargei said.
It remains to be seen how these issues will be addressed and whether the judiciary will regain the trust of the people.
