Suna East Member of Parliament Junet Mohamed has claimed that President William Ruto is seeking to reward former IEBC Chairperson Wafula Chebukati with a plum job in the Judiciary.
According to the MP, the President wishes Mr. Chebukat to be one of the new judges who will gain access to the Judicature Act amendment that would bring the total number of judges on the Court of Appeal to 70.
Speaking on Friday in Migori County at a political rally for Azimio la Umoja, the MP claimed that the Raila Odinga-led opposition would not permit the President to press for the changes.
“They have brought the motion to the National Assembly to increase the number of judges at the Court of Appeal in order for one person, Mr Chebukati, to have a job,” Junet said.
Mr Chebukati retired as the chair of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission in January after serving his two terms.
The Judicature Act currently sets a cap on the number of Court of Appeal justices at 30, but not less than 12.
President Ruto pledged during the elections to make sure Kenyans had quick access to justice.
The accusations made by the Suna East legislator follow a campaign of disobedience against President Ruto’s government.
The MP also reprimanded Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof. Kithure Kindiki for what he perceived as actions intended to prevent Mr. Odinga from organizing protests.
On Thursday, Kindiki declared that he has no desire to interfere with the Azimio demonstrations, but he did caution the demonstrators against breaking the law.
