President William Ruto has lauded the Supreme Court of Kenya for being a faithful custodian of the constitution, 12 years after its establishment.
Speaking during the opening of the Supreme Court at 12 Conference, Ruto said the apex court has pronounced itself on a broad range of pertinent issues across the legal landscape and, in so doing, entrenched certain principles and values as non-negotiable procedural and substantive elements of good policy.
He said the Supreme Court has been firm in offering guidance to lower courts, which has increased confidence in Kenyans.
“This confidence has fostered courage, openness, and vigour in our society values the Constitution envisioned for the Supreme Court and the judiciary.
“It is, therefore, quite fair to say that the Court has stood as a faithful custodian of our Constitution, a defender of fundamental rights, and a pillar of democracy. Its sustained capacity to resolve complex constitutional matters remains critical to our nation’s institutional vitality,” Ruto said.
The President went on to say that despite the many positive strides, there still is a lot that needs to be done.
He urged the Supreme Court to continue to evolve and be in sync with the experiences of all Kenyans.
Ruto insisted that an innovative and responsive court is the solution to the challenges of today’s world.
“Even as we celebrate the Court’s achievements, we must recognise that there remains some way to go for us to reach the Constitution’s Promised Land, that the pursuit of justice is unending, and that as long as we are a free and democratic nation, competition and disagreement will require resolution.
“The Supreme Court must continue to evolve, maintain ideological clarity and intellectual rigour, and remain connected to the lived experiences of all Kenyans. A forward-thinking, innovative, and responsive Court is essential for addressing the complex challenges of our time,” he said.
Ruto noted that even though there has been a lot of criticism over the last 12 years, the country’s top court has done well in interpreting the constitution with wisdom, reinforcing pillars of democracy, justice, equality, freedom, good governance, accountability, and the rule of law.