- The opposition asked the executive to respond and uphold the independence of the Judiciary.
- A few days ago, President Ruto held talks with CJ Martha Koome with the opposition saying that amounts to meddling.
Image: HANDOUT
The opposition has asked the Kenya Kwanza government to stop meddling in the affairs and independence of the Judiciary.
Speaking after the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition meeting on Tuesday, Narc Kenya boss Martha Karua told off the executive from interfering with the mandate of the Judiciary.
"Azimio stands for the rule of law and stands for the need for an independent and impartial judiciary. Subsequently, we demand that the Kenya Kwanza regime must keep its hands off the judiciary,'' Karua said as she read the coalition's statement in part.
'"We take note of the support expressed by the United States government for the Ruto regime to appeal the ruling on the deployment of police to Haiti,'' Karua said.
"We hope that all parties shall respect the independence of the Judiciary that that foreign interests will keep off our national affairs.''
The meeting was also attended by Azimio leader Raila Odinga, and DAP-K boss Eugene Wamalwa among others.
The High Court last week prohibited the National Security Council from deploying police officers to Haiti.
Delivering the judgement on Friday, High Court Judge Chacha Mwita said the manner used in the proposed deployment is unconstitutional, null and void.
He said the National Security Council has no legal mandate to deploy police officers under the law, adding that it can only do so with the defence forces.
"An order is hereby issued prohibiting the purported deployment of police officers to Haiti or any other country, otherwise and in contrary with Sections 107 and 108 of the National Police Service (NPS) Act," he ruled.
The US on Monday said it supports ongoing international efforts to deploy a Multinational Security Support mission for Haiti.
The US State Department said in a statement its commitment to the Haitian people remains unwavering.
“We reaffirm our support of ongoing international efforts to deploy a Multinational Security Support mission for Haiti, as requested by Haiti and authorised by UN Security Council Resolution 2699, and renew our calls for the international community to urgently provide support for this mission,” the statement.
It added the US acknowledges the ruling by the High Court regarding the deployment of Kenyan police in support of the Multinational Security Support mission to Haiti and the government’s stated intent to challenge this ruling.
Azimio has challenged the government not to interfere with the independence of the judiciary citing a recent meeting between President William Ruto and Chief Justice Martha Koome.
Raila had termed the meeting as unfortunate.
Speaking on Tuesday in Gilgil, Nakuru, the President last week defended the meeting saying it was necessary to put measures in a bid to weed out graft.
The President said the Judiciary should expedite court cases as they take longer for justice to be served.
"We convened a whole of government meeting between the Judiciary, legislator and executive to deal decisively, firmly and in an organised manner with the challenge of corruption, incompetence and vested interest that is undermining the development of the country," he said.