Judicial Service Commission (JSC) Vice Chairperson Isaac Ruto is battling fierce criticism after attending a high-profile United Democratic Alliance (UDA) National Governing Council meeting at State House, fueling accusations of compromised judicial impartiality.
The former Bomet Governor, a public representative on the JSC since 2023 and elected Vice Chair in 2024, was spotted at the January 26 gathering convened by President William Ruto in his capacity as UDA party leader. Critics argue the appearance blatantly blurs the critical divide between politics and the judiciary, threatening the institution’s sacred independence.
Leading the onslaught is former JSC Vice Chairperson Macharia Njeru, who fired off a scathing letter to Chief Justice Martha Koome on January 27. Njeru demanded Ruto’s immediate exclusion from ongoing judge interviews and full resignation, branding his actions a direct violation of the Constitution, Chapter Six on Leadership and Integrity, and the Judicial Service Code of Conduct.
“This unprecedented partisan display undermines public confidence in judicial appointments,” Njeru wrote, warning of irreparable damage to the judiciary’s neutrality.
The Consumer Federation of Kenya (COFEK) amplified the pressure, filing a formal petition urging the JSC to probe Ruto’s conduct alongside Commissioner Everlyn Olwande over impartiality concerns. COFEK stressed that commissioners must embody unwavering political neutrality to uphold constitutional mandates.
Ruto, once a vocal opposition figure as Chama Cha Mashinani (CCM) leader and Council of Governors chair, joined President Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza alliance post-2022 elections. His nomination to the JSC by the President and subsequent elevation to Vice Chair had already raised eyebrows among independence advocates.
As the controversy explodes amid sensitive judicial recruitments, observers fear political infiltration could erode trust in Kenya’s courts. With no public response yet from Ruto or the JSC, the saga highlights fragile safeguards separating executive power from judicial oversight.
This latest flashpoint revives debates on insulating the judiciary from political influence, especially under the current administration. Will Ruto step down to preserve integrity, or defy calls and deepen the crisis? Kenyans await answers as judicial credibility hangs in the balance.
