President William Ruto arriving at Parliament buildings being escorted by House Speakers Moses Wetang’ula (National Assembly) and Amason Kingi ( Senate) ahead of the State of the Nation address on November 21, 2024. (PCS)
President William Ruto has voiced dissatisfaction with the judiciary and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), accusing them of stalling Kenya’s fight against corruption.
Speaking during yesterday’s State of the Nation Address, Ruto singled out DPP Renson Ingonga for the frequent withdrawal of high-profile corruption cases, citing it as a major setback in ensuring justice and public accountability.
President Ruto expressed concern over repeated case dismissals due to unpreparedness or lack of witnesses, stating that such excuses undermine public trust in independent institutions.
“How can the DPP continuously drop cases because witnesses are unavailable?” he questioned, alluding to cases involving public officials accused of graft and embezzlement.
He further criticized the Judiciary for delays in concluding corruption cases and for enabling suspects to misuse legal mechanisms such as anticipatory bail.
“If election petitions can be resolved in six months, why do corruption cases drag on for years?” he asked, urging the judiciary to streamline its processes.
The President also lamented the slow pace of anti-corruption legislation in Parliament, urging lawmakers to prioritize laws aimed at strengthening transparency and accountability. His remarks reflect growing public dissatisfaction over the perceived impunity of those implicated in corruption scandals.
Ruto’s critic of the Judiciary and DPP comes at a time when his administration faces mounting pressure to deliver on anti-corruption promises. While his government has pledged to tackle graft head-on, critics have pointed out the lack of significant progress in prosecuting high-level cases.
Highlighting the impact of corruption on national security and economic growth, Ruto reiterated his administration’s commitment to reforms.
“Corruption erodes social justice and threatens the success of our Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda,” he said.
As the debate over reforms continues, attention now shifts to how independent institutions will address the President’s concerns. Ruto’s call for immediate action underscores the urgency of restoring public confidence in Kenya’s governance and justice system.
