The protest, which commenced at the Supreme Court in the city centre, brought traffic in the central business district to a standstill as lawyers marched through Parliament Road towards the president’s office.
Eric Theuri, the president of the Law Society of Kenya, the premier bar association in the East African nation, expressed his apprehensions about a potential erosion of judicial independence, a cornerstone of Kenya’s democratic fabric, in an interview with Anadolu news agency.
‘We cannot tolerate the president of Kenya making statements that undermine the judiciary. The president is accountable to the law, and he must uphold the constitution,’ Theuri stressed.
He further emphasised that criticising the courts based on unfavourable outcomes is unacceptable. Instead, he called for allowing the police and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate corruption allegations impartially.
The legal fraternity, with chants like ‘Uphold the Constitution!’ and ‘Ruto must go!’ echoing through the bustling avenues, marched through the city centre during the protest.
Victor Omondi, a law student and one of the protesters, conveyed his sentiments to Anadolu, stating, ‘We cannot stand idly as the very foundation of our legal system is being eroded. The judiciary is the last bastion of hope for the voiceless, and we must protect it at all costs.’
The grievances fuelling the protest stem from recent actions by the Ruto administration that many lawyers interpret as attempts to undermine the independence of the judiciary. Notably, several court rulings have gone against President William Ruto’s administration’s policies, including flagship initiatives like a housing fund and universal healthcare project.
Ruto, in response, has accused some judges of corruption and bias, alleging collaboration with the opposition to thwart his government’s agenda. The Kenyan leader has gone so far as to threaten disobedience of court orders he deems obstructive to progress. The legal community’s protest serves as a powerful call for upholding the rule of law and protecting the judiciary’s integrity.
