Kericho senator demands judges to incorporate public participation before making judgements on Ruto’s projects

Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot has asked judges to involve the public before shooting down the implementation of key agendas by the government.

Speaking to residents on Wednesday, January 17, 2024, the senator fired at judges over what he termed as a move meant to stall President William Ruto’s developmental agendas.

He criticized the Martha Koome-led judiciary stating that blocking the implementation of the agendas fronted by the ruling regime was pure sabotage aimed at ensuring that citizens don’t benefit.

While firing at the judiciary, the lawmaker stressed that the judges should ensure that citizens participate in the decision-making process before they (judges) give a ruling.

“Kama vile mimi na Hillary wakati tunataka kutengeza sheria tunafanya public participation na tunauliza wananchi wewe kama judge, saile unataka kusimamisha program ambayo itabenefit mwananchi wa kawaida kuja mpaka hapa uulize wananchi wakwambie kama watabenefit kwa hio program ama hawatabenefit ndio upeane hio order mnapeana,” he stated.

The senator went on to stress that the judges must respect and trust in the president’s ‘transformative’ ideas which he says align with his manifesto.

He further asked the president to maintain his stance against the judiciary and not fold regardless of the outcome of his anticipated meeting with Chief Justice Koome.

“So that tusikue na taifa ambayo watu wachache tu wanakaa kule Nairobi na kusimamisha mpango nzuri ambayo rais ako nayo, hio hatuwezi kubali. Rais alipeana ahadi na sisi tuna tunamwini, na tunamwambia rais usijaribu kupinduka ata wakati Martha Koome anakuita muende muongee, enda muongee lakini umwambie wananchi wanakudai ile ahadi ambayo ulipeana,” he added.

The senator’s remarks follow the stallment of key projects such as the Social Health Insurance Fund and the housing levy.

The High Court had stopped the Housing Levy on grounds that it was discriminating against other Kenyans, not on payslips.

“In the absence of a rational explanation for how the housing levy was enacted, we can only conclude that the respondents took the easy path of least resistance because collecting taxes from employees in formal employment is easier,” the court ruled.

Similarly, the court blocked the implementation of the Social Health Insurance Fund 2023, the Primary Health Care Act 2023 and the Digital Health Act 2023 until a case challenging its legality is heard on February 7, 2024.

The case followed a petition filed by activist Joseph Aura and the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU).

The latest comes days after the president agreed to hold talks with CJ Koome and the two speakers of parliament.

“This is the year we will sort out corruption in Kenya. Let me tell you CJ, I am ready to hold a meeting between the leadership of the Executive, Judiciary, and Legislature. I am ready for the conversation on how we will deal with corruption because it is sabotaging the progress and potential of Kenya.”

“I am going to lead from the front in that conversation so that we can deal with the corrupt who go to court to escape justice and stall government operations. They want to hold the system hostage by bribing the Judiciary through hiring expensive lawyers and derailing the progress,” the president said.

This followed his sustained attacks on the judiciary over alleged corruption which he says have stalled his