In Kenya, Vice-President William Ruto continues to make headlines by openly defying justice. Its latest action: the inauguration of the social housing construction site in Nanyuki, located 200 km north of Nairobi. This ambitious project aims to build 200 apartments and create 1,000 jobs, with the ultimate goal of creating 250,000 social housing units across the country.
However, this initiative is controversial since the courts recently suspended certain provisions of the 2023 finance law which were intended to finance this policy. Despite this, William Ruto has chosen to ignore this and accuse the judges of corruption, stating that their independence should not result in hindering the public interest. This attitude aroused the indignation of many political actors and civil society.
The lawyer and opposition MP, Millie Odhiambo, reacted strongly by saying that the president could not decide alone whether or not to submit to justice and the Constitution. For its part, the Kenya Law Society, an organization of lawyers, called for demonstrations across the country to protest the president’s recent statements and defend the independence of the judiciary.
This situation highlights the tensions that exist between the executive and the judiciary in Kenya. The standoff between William Ruto and the judiciary is likely to continue, with potential implications for the political stability of the country. One thing is certain, this case raises crucial questions about the independence of the judiciary and the impact of political decisions on the functioning of the judicial system. To be followed closely.