Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has rallied Kenyans to join the lawyers’ protest against the government scheduled for Friday.
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has organised the protests to call out the government for degrading the mandate of the Judiciary by associating it with corruption.
Vice President Faith Odhiambo said on Thursday they will peacefully protest against utterances made by President William Ruto, a section of Cabinet Secretaries and MPs allied to the ruling party on the Judiciary being "corrupt".
"We are asking lawyers to come out tomorrow morning. We are meeting at the Supreme Court at 10 am to march. We are going to have a peaceful protest," Odhiambo said during a talk show on Spice FM.
Sifuna, a lawyer by profession, asked Kenyans to join the march saying it was for the good of all Kenyans.
He said those who have stayed away from previous demonstrations called by the Opposition have no reason to miss the lawyers’ protest as it has decorum.
“Hukujangi ile yetu ju sisi ni wabaya, twende hii basi. Hii ni ya wangwana (You never attended the other because we are bad, let’s go for this. This one is by gentlemen).”
“Do something. Your Country needs you. Your voice is very important,” he said.
The call for protests was first made by LSK President Eric Theuri on January 3, hot on the heels of Ruto’s scathing criticism of the Judiciary.
The President claimed some judges and judicial officers were being used as conduits by some unnamed powerful individuals to frustrate government policies such as the Social Health Insurance cover and Affordable Housing programme.
The remarks drew criticism from various quarters including Chief Justice Martha Koome who urged judges to continue upholding the fidelity of the Constitution and exercise their mandate without fear.
While admitting that “there are always some rotten apples”, Odhiambo challenged the President to table evidence, if any, of the alleged corruption in the judiciary.
"This labelling of the Judiciary as wholesale is something that we do not agree with. Pick out who are the corrupt officers. Let us deal with them per the law," she said.
During Friday’s procession, lawyers will don purple ribbons to signify their support for the Judiciary and the rule of law.
