Cheruiyot to Judiciary: Include public participation in cases that delay state projects

Cheruiyot said this will help in instances where a program that impacts Kenyans has been taken to court.

In Summary
  • He added that during President William Ruto's planned meeting with the Judiciary and the Legislature, he should insist that he made promises to Kenyans that must be fulfilled.
  • "I am telling the president, when you meet Martha Koome for the talks tell her you made promises to the people and they want you to fulfil them."
Senate majority leader Aaron Cheruiyot during a past meeting.
Senate majority leader Aaron Cheruiyot during a past meeting.
Image: COURTESY

Kericho Senator and Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot now wants the Judiciary to include public participation before making judgements on matters that delay government projects.

Speaking in Kipkelion, Cheruiyot said this will help in instances where a program that impacts Kenyans has been taken to court.

He said the judiciary, before giving orders stopping such projects should first consult the people, as is the case when formulating laws in Parliament.

"The way Hillary Koske (Kipkelion West MP) and I, when making laws conduct public participation and ask citizens, as a Judge, when you want to stop a program that will benefit the lives of Kenyans, come to Kipkelion and ask the people if they will benefit or not before you give those orders," Cheruiyot said.

"This is so that we don't have a country where a few people sit in Nairobi and stop the good plans the president has. The president made promises and the people want them fulfilled."

He added that during President William Ruto's planned meeting with the Judiciary and the Legislature, he should insist that he made promises to Kenyans that must be fulfilled.

"I am telling the president, when you meet Martha Koome for the talks tell her you made promises to the people and they want you to fulfil them."

The Kericho Senator's remarks come against the backdrop of recent attacks on the judiciary by the President.

Ruto and his allies claim some judicial officers have been working in cahoots with unscrupulous people to frustrate the government's development projects.

Following the attacks, Chief Justice Martha Koome revealed that the Judiciary had written to Ruto seeking an audience to establish the genesis of his complaints against the arm.

“He might have received information because we have various machinery and agencies for collecting information and we would like to engage him so that he can give us that information," Koome said.

“So we will be looking out for that dialogue, we have written and I believe that the President is going to give us an appointment.” 

On Tuesday, President Ruto agreed to hold talks with the Judiciary.

Ruto said he is ready for talks with Chief Justice Martha Koome to address alleged corruption in the judiciary. 

He, however, said the discussion will involve the leadership of the three arms of government.

 

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