The Law Society of Kenya has called upon its members to participate in a countrywide peaceful protest in solidarity with the judiciary following President William Ruto's Tuesday remarks.
"We call upon all members to don purple ribbons throughout the coming week and join in the peaceful protests countrywide that will be organised by the society in support of the rule of law and in solidarity with the Judiciary," LSK president Eric Theuri said in a statement.
"We must not allow our Constitution to suffer dereliction."
Further, Theuri said that the same Judiciary Ruto is 'attacking' has both nullified a prior presidential election and, at another juncture, upheld his very own election.
"This underscores the sacrosanct role of a robust and independent judiciary in fostering national growth, stability, and economic prosperity," he said.
He added that the President, as the custodian of the rule of law, should refrain from undermining the judiciary and instead utilise legal avenues at his disposal to challenge decisions that he finds aggrieving.
"Public incitement against the judiciary is not only detrimental to our constitutional fabric but also compromises the sanctity of our legal system," he said.
Theuri further urged the president to provide any evidence of the corruption of judges to the Judicial Service Commission and avoid casting aspersions upon the entire institution of the Judiciary.
"Any allegations of corruption against judicial officers must be channeled through the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), avoiding arbitrary roadside declarations."
"A resilient and independent judiciary is not a threat but a cornerstone of our democracy."
President Ruto, while speaking in Nyandarua on Tuesday, alleged that some rulings made by the Judiciary were slowing down the implementation of the Kenya Kwanza development agenda.
He said that whereas the government respects judicial independence, it will not allow a few individuals with vested interests to abuse courts and stall government projects.
This occurred after the court halted the implementation of the 1.5 per housing levy on salaried Kenyans, declaring it unconstitutional.
