Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua yesterday indicated that he will petition the Judicial Service  Commission for removal a judge who gave orders freezing his assets while he was the MP for Mathira.

The unprecedented move is an escalation of the raging war between the Judiciary and Executive. President William Ruto has accused judges of sabatoging his political agenda by issuing order stooping his signature projects.

On the other hand, Chief Justice Martha Koome has asked justices to work without fear or favour and follow the dictates of the Constitution. The CJ has also challenged Executive to provide evidence and follow the right channels in law for the disciplining of judges.

Only a few days before his inauguration, the President-elect had showered accolades to the Judiciary after the Supreme Court upheld his election victory, describing it as the epitome of professionalism, impartiality, patriotism and rule of law.

But barely a year since his ascension to power, President Ruto appears to have made a 360 degrees about-turn and developed a passionate distaste for the Judiciary.

Within a span of about 15 days, the President and his men have been on an offensive against the Judiciary, not only describing it as a corrupt institution, but moved a notch higher by declaring to defy all court orders meant to derail his government agenda. One of the most dramatic early actions of President Mwai Kibaki Government was the “radical surgery” on the Judiciary driven by then Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister Kiraitu Murungi.

Whether President Kibaki’s bold move was a success or not, the jury is still out.

As a man armed with classified intelligence reports and who swore to defend the Constitution, President Ruto knows clearly well the impact his persistence attacks and derogatory statements on the Judiciary would make.

President Ruto should have it in his mind that judicial independence is safeguarded in both the supreme law and other international statutes.

Thus the institution and its officers shall not be subject to the control or whims of any person or authority. We, however, caution that politicians should not use the war against judges to settle scores.