Ruto says he's ready for talks with Koome, Raila expresses reservations

By Peter Ochieng

President William Ruto has declared his willingness to hold talks with Chief Justice (CJ) Martha Koome over various issues, including alleged corruption in the judiciary.

Speaking in Nandi county on Tuesday, the Head of State said he is ready for the talks, which should involve leadership of all the three arms of government - judiciary, executive and legislature.

“I want to tell the Madam Chief Justice that I am ready for the talks. I will lead the executive, the judiciary led by the Chief Justice and the legislature led by the Speakers," he said.

"I am ready for the conversation on how we are going to deal with vested interests, incompetence and corruption."

On Monday, Koome informed the country that the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) had written to the president seeking for an audience with him, with the view of establishing the genesis of his complaints against some judicial officers.

“He might have received information because we have various machinery and agencies for collecting information and we would like to engage him so that he can give us that information. So we will be looking out for that dialogue, we have written and I believe that the president is going to give us an appointment," stated the CJ.

However, opposition leader Raila Odinga is warning the CJ against having a sitting with the president, adding that it will be the first step towards compromising the judiciary.

"Chief Justice Martha Koome says she wants to dialogue with Ruto. That will mark the start of compromising. There is no need for the judiciary to hold talks with Ruto. The law says that if you disagree with a court decision you appeal," Odinga said in Vihiga on Tuesday.

"If you want to compromise the judiciary and negotiate with the executive over this kind of dispute, then we are saying you are yourself going to compromise this country."

The Azimio leaders urged Kenyans to stand firm, and protect all independent institutions established under the 2010 constitution.

Ruto and his allies have been at loggerheads with the judiciary, claiming that some corrupt judges were working in cahoots with some people to sabotage Kenya Kwanza's development agenda.