Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has waded into the heated debate surrounding the potential removal of judges, emphasizing that the process is guided by constitutional provisions rather than political or ethnic considerations.
In a statement posted on his X account on Monday, Kindiki urged both those seeking the ouster of judges and their defenders to follow legal avenues and avoid public incitement.
“Accusers and defenders of judges must use constitutional and legal arguments to state their positions rather than trivializing such a weighty legal matter by bringing in ethnicity into the equation,” he stated.
His remarks appeared to be a direct rebuttal to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who had issued a strong warning against any move to oust Chief Justice Martha Koome.
Speaking in Meru on Sunday, Gachagua accused President William Ruto’s administration of orchestrating a plot against Koome. He warned that should the Chief Justice be removed, he would rally mass action against the government.
“She is being fought because she has refused to be a ‘yes sir’ person. If you chase our Martha Koome, don’t set foot in Meru. You chased Rigathi Gachagua, and the Mt. Kenya people were silent; you thought they were cowards,” Gachagua stated.
The controversy comes as the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) confirmed the receipt of five petitions and complaints against various judges, including Koome. JSC Vice Chairperson Isaac Rutto revealed that lawyer Nelson Havi had filed a petition on January 10 against Chief Justice Koome and six other Supreme Court and High Court judges.
The petition cites grounds of gross misconduct and misbehavior against Justices Philomena Mwilu (Deputy Chief Justice), Njoki Ndung’u, Mohammed Ibrahim, Dr. Smokin Wanjala, Isaac Lenaola, and William Ouko.
According to the JSC, should the complaints hold merit, it will recommend to the President the formation of a tribunal to determine whether the judges should be removed from office.
Kindiki’s remarks highlight growing divisions within Kenya Kwanza, as Gachagua continues to position himself as a defender of Mt. Kenya interests. His comments in Meru signal an attempt to rally the region’s support against perceived government overreach.
As the debate rages, all eyes are now on the JSC to determine the fate of the judges amid mounting political pressure.
