Deputy President William Ruto’s camp has expressed dissatisfaction with Chief Justice Martha Koome‘s active participation in the preparations for the 2022 General Election.
In a letter addressed to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) on Wednesday, November 24, UDA Secretary General Veronica Maina urged the Chef Justice to henceforth stop, abandon, desist, refrain and cease participating in the activities of the committee.
Maina said Koome’s active involvement in the preparations for the 2022 General Election is a threat to free and fair elections.
“It is our submission that your continued involvement in the Technical Working Committee is likely to interfere with and shall threaten free and fair elections come 2022,” Maina said in a statement seen by Kivumbi.co.ke.
On Tuesday, November 23, Martha Koome who sits in the Technical Working Committee For Election Preparedness said government institutions are working together in preparation for the 2022 elections.
Koome, however, insisted that the Judiciary will not compromise its independence and bow to any influence.
But UDA said that Koome’s role as the President of the Supreme Court creates a clear case of conflict of interest since the Chief Justice is constitutionally required to act as an arbiter in election petitions.
“The committee draws its membership from various government agencies and it is indeed a multi-sectorial forum,
“We opine that your involvement in the consultative meetings is a clear violation of the Constitution, the Judicial Service Act, 2011, the Leadership and Integrity Act, 2012, the Public Officer Ethics Act, 2003, the Bangalore Principles, and the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers,” UDA’s Secretary General added.
Ruto’s camp argued that Kenyans will have nowhere to turn to in the event there are election disputes should the judiciary be part of the elections management team.
“Participating … in the Committee is also tantamount to participating in elections matters and in this case you are wearing the hat of those that are required to ensure that all is set for elections, in this case, being the IEBC and thereafter you shall be expected to wear the hat of a judge and deliberate and determine any ensuing election disputes. The interchange of the two hats cannot constitutionally be tenable,” Maina wen on.
The concern from Ruto’s camp follows a similar letter complaining about some cabinet secretaries being actively involved in campaigning for Raila yet they are part of the team preparing for the 2022 General Election.
The cabinet secretaries in question were Eugene Wamalwa (Defence), Fred Matiang’i (Interior) and Joseph Mucheru (ICT)
