By PSCU
President Uhuru Kenyatta on Thursday decreed that the judiciary is not immune to the temptations of corruption and its officers must guard against criminals out to exploit court processes to escape the consequences of their economic crimes.
According to the Head of State, there are known culprits who exploit court processes and judgements to escape from the consequences of their economic crimes against the people of Kenya.
“Corruption is continuing its vicious attack on our people and our nation. The Judiciary is not immune to its illicit lures, and its intimidation,” said President Kenyatta at the Supreme Court grounds in Nairobi where he witnessed the presentation of the 7thState of Judiciary and Administration of Justice Report (SOJAR), 2017/18.
He was accompanied by Deputy President William Ruto, and the two speakers of the National Assembly and the Senate, Justin Muturi and Ken Lusaka respectively.
The annual report is a statement of accountability in which the judiciary details its successes and challenges during the year in review while drawing a roadmap on how to fix the identified gaps.
The President also lamented that it was unfortunate that a thread of selfish individuals have continued to block government projects with undeclared interests and in the process left many Kenyans suffering and denied essential services.
“And as if this is not enough, the tax payer has to honour interest and penalty payments on loans for stalled projects,” said the President
President Kenyatta similarly insisted that no Kenyan is above the law and the judicial system should not be used to protect some individuals.
“Using the law to protect individuals from the law is indeed a profound assault on justice. It damages and endangers our constitutional dispensation, and if allowed to continue, risks casting us, with time, into a judicial tyranny,” President Kenyatta explained.
“A crook is a crook, whether in a Judge’s or an Advocate’s Robes, and should not be treated any different from a crook in overalls. If anything, the Judiciary should hold itself to higher standard.”
