President William Ruto has challenged the Judiciary to prove itself as the true “temple of justice” for all Kenyans by confronting corruption within its ranks and upholding integrity as the foundation of its independence.
Speaking on Wednesday evening during the Katiba @15 celebrations, marking 15 years since the promulgation of the 2010 Constitution, Ruto warned that public confidence in the courts would collapse if Kenyans perceived the institution as compromised.
“The Judiciary must confront corruption within its own ranks. If the institution mandated to dispense justice is perceived as corrupt, it not only erodes confidence but also undermines the very Constitution it is sworn to protect,” he said, pointing to growing public concern over the term “jury pesa.”
The President urged judges and magistrates to embrace the highest ideals of constitutionalism by cleansing the institution and ensuring judicial independence is rooted in integrity. “The Judiciary must rise to its highest calling, to cleanse itself, uphold its independence with integrity and prove itself the true temple of justice for all Kenyans,” he added.
At the same time, Ruto highlighted what he termed historic support for strengthening the Judiciary, particularly in expanding its human capital. He noted that his administration had facilitated the recruitment and swearing-in of 47 judges in three years, with another 50 currently being hired. “That will make it 97 judges in three years. No other administration has provided such kind of support to our Judiciary,” he said.
The celebrations, held under the theme Deepening Constitutionalism and Strengthening Democratic Institutions, also saw Chief Justice Martha Koome reaffirm the Judiciary’s watchdog role. She pledged the courts’ unwavering fidelity to the Constitution despite persistent challenges, including political pressure.
“As Chief Justice, I take this opportunity to reassure Kenyans of our unwavering fidelity to the Constitution. We shall continue to administer justice without fear or favour, to check abuses of power, and to defend the rights of Kenyans where necessary,” Koome declared.
The anniversary underscored both progress and lingering challenges in safeguarding Kenya’s democracy, with the spotlight firmly on judicial integrity and independence as key pillars of constitutionalism.
