Four lobby groups now want President William Ruto to apologise to the Judiciary over remarks he made on Tuesday.
The lobbies; the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), MUHURI, and Social Justice Centres have condemned the remarks, terming them reckless and insidious attacks.
"President Ruto must immediately issue an unequivocal apology to the Judiciary and stop the attacks, interference, intimidation and threats including to other institutions and all Kenyans who continue to challenge his punitive and retrogressive decisions," part of the statement read.
Further, the groups have called on the judiciary to consider laying down its tools unless Ruto retracts his utterances for the rule of law is no longer applicable to the regime.
"The Kenya Kwanza regime must end its proclivity to autocracy, personal rule and obsession with institutional capture and disregard of the rule of law," the groups said.
They also want Kenyans and the legal fraternity to strongly consider filing complaints with the Law Society of Kenya against the Attorney-General and the Solicitor General for failing to provide sound legal advice to the President regarding the critical role that the Judiciary plays.
President Ruto, while speaking in Nyandarua on Tuesday, alleged that some rulings made by the Judiciary were slowing down the implementation of the Kenya Kwanza development agenda.
He said that whereas the government respects judicial independence, it will not allow a few individuals with vested interests to abuse courts and stall government projects.
Law Society Of Kenya President Eric Theuri on Wednesday urged the president to provide any evidence of the corruption of judges to the Judicial Service Commission and avoid casting aspersions upon the entire institution of the Judiciary.
"Any allegations of corruption against judicial officers must be channeled through the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), avoiding arbitrary roadside declarations."
"A resilient and independent judiciary is not a threat but a cornerstone of our democracy."
