President William Ruto has persisted in his attacks against the judiciary, vowing to rid the arm of the government of corrupt individuals.

Speaking on Tuesday, January 9, 2024, Ruto accused former governments of having a budget to bribe court officials to win cases.

“Though in court trying to stop this work (affordable housing), please, have some humanity. You have jobs, your children have jobs but the children of mama mbogas and hustlers have no jobs. I am their lawyer and I cannot give bribes in court. Instead of giving bribes in court, we will finish corruption in court,” Ruto said.

“Some people are telling me that because the previous government had a budget to give bribes in court, I should have a budget to give bribes in court. There is no budget which will be made to bribe anyone in court. Instead of bribing in court, we will finish corruption in court.”

Ruto on court injunctions

Ruto spoke in response to court injunctions issued by the court against the Housing Levy, which was introduced in 2023 to support the Affordable Housing agenda.

“Court employees are servants of the people of Kenya. Because they are disrespectful and say they have money to ‘buy’ lawyers. I will stand with the children of the mama mbogas until they get jobs,” Ruto added.

Ruto spoke during the groundbreaking ceremony for Eldoret 64 Ultra Modern Market in Uasin Gishu County. Ruto also laid the foundation stone for the Kapsuswa Affordable Housing Project in Soy, Uasin Gishu County.

According to him, implementation of the government’s housing programme will ensure that Kenyans have access to affordable and decent shelter.

“The 220-unit housing project will engage more than 500 youth directly in construction and create close to 3000 indirect jobs,” Ruto stated.

The President also commissioned the 1506-unit Pioneer Affordable Housing Project in Kapseret, which he said will generate over 10,000 jobs.

Early this month, a three-judge Bench comprising Court of Appeal Justices Lydia Achode, John Mativo and Mwaniki Gachoka ordered the maintenance of the status quo on the collection of housing levy and other taxes introduced by the Finance Act 2023 until January 26.

The High Court had declared the housing levy unconstitutional before the orders were temporarily suspended by the court of appeal.