ODM leader Raila Odinga has warned President William Ruto against interfering with other arms of government and that by attacking Judiciary he has crossed the line.

Speaking during a press conference at Maakazi hotel in Mombasa, Mr Odinga displeasure at President Ruto’s continued attacks on the Judiciary after his Nyandarua County sentiments where he intimated that his administration would no longer follow court orders as he accused the Judiciary of taking bribes in order to sabotage the government.

Mr Odinga challenged President Ruto to learn that his best insurance is to obey the law and there is no other way about it and we will not allow him to invent any other way other than the law.

Mr Odinga accused the President of trying to capture the judiciary by intimidating judges and magistrates not to hear cases against his policies, dismiss such cases or always rule in his favour. 

“It was my hope that after the tumult and pain experienced in 2023 and from which Kenyans are still deeply suffering, the Kenya Kwanza administration would begin this New Year with much more reflection and humility that would plant hopes that vital lessons have been learnt and 2024 would be better. We were wrong,” said Mr Odinga who is also ODM party leader.

Odinga was flanked by Mombasa governor Abdulswamad Nassir, Mombasa women representative Zamzam Mohamed, county senator Mohammed Faki and Mombasa county speaker Aharub Khatri.

Mr Odinga accused the Kenya Kwanza administration of corruption and that Mr Ruto should be the first to respect courts since his entire political career has been saved by the Judiciary. 

“When he was charged with fraud and stealing of Kenya Pipeline land, it was the Judiciary that saved him. When he was sued to stop his presidential bid with President Uhuru Kenyatta on account of commission of crimes against humanity, it was the judiciary that saved him. And in 2022, the Judiciary sanctified his power grab after he rigged elections. It is ridiculous to now hear the biggest political beneficiary of judicial decisions in Kenya's history now accuse the institution of sabotaging him,” said Mr Odinga.

He added, “President Ruto wants to establish an absolute dictatorship. Kenyans know we have been here before when judges heard cases in the dead of the night, way past official working hours and sent opponents of the state to jail and those not obeying executive rule got transferred, sacked or even got poisoned.”

Mr Odinga claimed that the threats that Kenya Kwanza regime continues must be seen in their correct context as a scapegoating and diversionary tactic from the pressing social and economic pressures that the regime has subjected the people to. The Azimio la Umoja leader said President Ruto cannot convince Kenyans that the Judiciary is more corrupt than the Executive branch of government, which he leads and that he should respect the independent body. 

“Mr Ruto’s latest strange rage to the Judiciary is too critical to the well-being of our country and our democracy, making it extremely important that we call Mr Ruto out and tell him that he has crossed the line. Kenyans will recall that when the Supreme Court made its contemptuous ruling against Azimio la Umoja’s presidential election in 2022, we said we strongly disagreed, but accepted it in the interest of furthering the rule of law, democracy, stability and healing of our nation and him should follow our steps,” said Mr Odinga. 

He added, “It remains our position to date that disobeying court rulings is a sure path to chaos and the collapse of a nation. If there was ever any doubt about the malevolent intent of the Kenya Kwanza regime in regard to the Constitution of Kenya, the attack by Mr Ruto on the Judiciary removes all the doubt.”