Law Society of Kenya (LSK) president, Eric Theuri, has challenged Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to submit any evidence linking judicial officers to corruption directly to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) rather than airing allegations publicly.
The call comes in response to Gachagua’s announcement that he intends to file a petition seeking the removal of Justice Esther Maina from office, accusing her of improperly declaring his wealth as proceeds of crime.
Speaking on Citizen TV’s Daybreak show on Monday, Theuri emphasized the importance of presenting corruption allegations through the appropriate channels.
He stated, “If you have evidence of corruption against a particular judge, you just present it to the Judicial Service Commission; you do not need to go and make public pronouncements, but let us wait and see what happens.”
The LSK president also criticized the Executive for its consistent attacks on the Judiciary, expressing concern about the erosion of autonomy in independent institutions and its impact on the nation’s democracy.
He highlighted the current scenario where there is an aggressive Executive, a relatively inactive parliament, and a Judiciary striving to establish authority amid challenging circumstances.
These developments unfold against the backdrop of intensified criticism from President William Ruto towards the Judiciary, alleging infiltration by corrupt individuals.
Ruto has pledged to eliminate these individuals, attributing the court’s decision to block the Housing Levy collection—integral to his ambitious Housing project—to corruption within the Judiciary.
Chief Justice Martha Koome countered Ruto’s accusations, urging him and Kenya Kwanza leaders to channel their complaints through the constitutionally mandated body for processing.
Koome emphasized the need to follow the prescribed constitutional procedures for lodging and processing complaints against judges or judicial officers implicated in corruption or misconduct.
She stated, “Days are gone when officers were hounded out of office through name-calling.”
