Ruto Lash Out Leaves Leaders Upset

Hello and welcome to Kenyans.co.ke's Evening Brief Newsletter where we are watching President William Ruto and his army sound off.

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Yet again, the Head of State took the microphone, at a funeral, and directed his gaze towards the judiciary where he accused some of its officers of acting with impunity. On the menu this time? A road that had stalled pending a court determination.

"The people of Nyandarua want development. Ile barabara ya Ndonyo-Njeru-Ihithe mnataka tujenge ama mnataka tungoje maamuzi ya mahakama? Judiciary wanasema tusijenge. Mnataka nijenge? Bwana PS, weka pesa ya hiyo barabara tuanze kujenga. Kwa sababu the judiciary must be answerable and submit itself to the constitution and people of Kenya," Ruto, who was flanked by an army of his political allies, directed.

His tirade extended to cover several of his legacy projects among them the Housing Levy as well as the Social Health Insurance Fund mandatory contributions that have repeatedly hit legal dead-ends.

“Our Judiciary, we respect you but judicial impunity by corrupt judicial officers must stop in Kenya...we’ll stop it and whatever it takes,” he added.

“Ati watu wachache wameenda kortini na majamaa watatu wenye wamezoea kufuja pesa ya NHIF... sasa 50 per cent ya pesa ya NHIF wao ndio wamekuwa wakiiba...we have had fake hospitals...fake doctors."

His righthand man and Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung'wah backed his claim noting, "We know all those people who are being used to rush to courts every day to sabotage government...we will name and shame you.” Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro backed the claims.

The rant, which is Ruto's second, comes two months after the High Court suspended the implementation of three bills he assented into law. They are The Social Health Insurance, Primary Health Care Act, and the Digital and Digital Health Act.?

Earlier, the court had also blocked the implementation of the housing levy, until January 10, whose 1.5 per cent deductions were already underway. Today, the hearing of an appeal lodged by the state against the? Senator Okiya Omtatah-backed suit was underway.

Ruto's utterance upset some quarters including Constitutional Lawyer Miguna Miguna whose exile to Canada was lifted by the current regime.

"Stop threatening the judiciary. Remember that without the Judiciary, you wouldn’t be President. You can’t pretend to protect the independence of the Judiciary through threats. If you know thieves stealing public money, let us see them charged, tried, and convicted. However, we say no to autocracy," Miguna demanded.

Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo, Azimio Spokesperson Makau Mutua and lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi were also alarmed by the claim, instead advising the President to reform the Judiciary.

The utterance also fumed the opposition which has already threatened to resume nationwide demonstrations as the cost of living continues to afflict the country. Lawyers, including the Law Society of Kenya member, also joined the crusade slamming the President over the remarks. We are on the ground covering the aftermath of the directives.

Here are five other stories keeping us busy today.

1. President William Ruto swung into action a day after the Somaliland-Ethiopian Red Sea port deal threatened Kenya's trade and peace in the region by hosting a meeting at State House. Understand the topic of discussion.
2. After a dramatic arrest just days before Christmas Day, former CS Najib Balala is Uhuru Kenyatta's men on the chopping board now with EACC concluding further investigations in the Ksh8 billion scandal.?
3. Kenyans are highly unlikely to enjoy lower fuel prices any time soon after a survey of CEOs by the Central Bank of Kenya painted a gloomy future. Neighbouring Tanzania is, however, enjoying a drop of Ksh5 at the pump, the second in a matter of months.
4. As the economy continues to punish the salaried, a Nakuru-based doctor now wants Ruto to tax tithes, offerings, and donations arguing that the exemption provided an unfair operating ground.
5. A UK native is now cautioning her countrymen to be weary of insurance fraud after footing a Ksh20 million bill despite taking insurance during a Kenyan visit.