- President William Ruto on Monday convened a meeting with Chief Justice Martha Koome to address alleged corruption in the country's Judicial system.
- Raila claimed that the meeting did not amount to much saying the integrity of the Judiciary has been compromised.
Image: ODM/X
Azimio leader Raila Odinga has weighed in on claims of corruption in the Judiciary.
Speaking on Wednesday, the Azimio boss called on the use of independent institutions to fight corruption in the Judiciary.
His remarks come after President William Ruto on Monday convened a meeting with Chief Justice Martha Koome to address alleged corruption in the country's Judicial system.
Raila claimed that the meeting did not amount to much saying the integrity of the Judiciary has been compromised.
"This is not the first time we hear of a purge in the Judiciary. Those meetings in the past amounted to blackmail and intimidation of the judges so that they could be compliant, there is nothing like radical surgery," he said.
Raila was speaking during an ODM membership registration drive at Marafaa in Magarini, Kilifi County.
"If there is a possible reform within the Judiciary it must be done by neutral institutions, a neutral commission and not the Executive, Judiciary itself and not the Legislature."
The Azimio boss said the meeting between the President and the three arms of government will compromise the independence of the Judiciary.
On Tuesday, Ruto defended the meeting saying it was necessary to put measures in a bid to weed out graft.
The President said the Judiciary should expedite court cases as they take longer for justice to be served.
"We convened a whole of government meeting between the Judiciary, Legislature and Executive to deal decisively, firmly and in an organised manner with the challenge of corruption, incompetence and vested interest that is undermining the development of the country," he said.
"Together and united, we are determined this time round we must root out the corruption menace in Kenya."
On Monday, the three arms of government admitted that corruption has remained an existential threat to the nation and permeated every arm of government.
They agreed that corruption undermines the country’s development potential and sabotages the transformation of the nation.
"Each of the three arms of government commits to enhance service delivery, fight corruption and promote the overall administration of justice to enhance accountability to the people of Kenya," they said in a statement.
They agreed to individually develop policies, guidelines, regulations and legislative proposals to achieve the objectives of fighting corruption, improving service delivery and enhancing institutional accountability of all arms of government.
To achieve this, the three arms of government agreed to submit proposals made to a forum of the National Council of the Administration of Justice (NCAJ) within 30 days.
The National Council of the Administration of Justice will be convened by CJ Koome.
"Within 30 days, each arm of Government will submit the proposals made to a forum of the National Council of the Administration of Justice (NCAJ) convened by Her Ladyship the Chief Justice," the statement read.