Chief Justice Martha Koome on Monday, January 15, decried that President William Ruto had ignored her calls for a round-table meeting to iron out the ongoing rift between the Judiciary and the executive.
Koome who was addressing journalists said he had written to President Ruto for a formal meeting but no response had been given.
As such, the Head of State on Tuesday, January 16, welcomed the call by the Chief Justice to hold talks with the Executive and Legislature.
Ruto who was speaking in Nandi County during the commissioning of the Tinderet Integrated Technical and Trainers College said dialogue will help end impunity, corruption, and vested interests.
“Let me tell you CJ, I am ready to hold a meeting between the leadership of the Executive, Judiciary, and Legislature,
“I am ready for the conversation on how we will deal with corruption because it is sabotaging the progress and potential of Kenya,” the president said.
However, opposition leader Raia Odinga has strongly opposed the talks between the president and the chief justice, saying it will undermine the independence of the judiciary.
Raila further said it was wrong for the judiciary to hold a dialogue with the judiciary since there were still active cases pending in court which involved the executive.
“The Chief Justice is talking about having a dialogue with the Executive which has got an active case in the court. That is how to compromise justice,” Raila said.
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna supported Raila’s comments saying that Kenyans must be present during the dialogue between the Judiciary and Executive.
Sifuna wondered why the CJ was seeking for audience with a person who does not respect court orders.
“Leo hii wanakuja wanakutisha ati sasa unaitisha mazungumzo… Tunaambia Chief Justice there are no deals between the good and those who are evil. Hamuwezi kufanya mkataba wowote kati ya watu waovu na wale wenye wako kwa haki,
“Kwa hivyo huo mkutano ambao mnapanga kuenda, kama mtafanya mkutano kati ya judiciary na executive, lazima wakenya wawe hapo wajue ni deal gani minaskizana hapo,” Sifuna said.
