William Ruto Accuses Judiciary Of Corruption, Trying To Sabotage Govt's Development Agenda

• President William Ruto said his plans to actualise universal healthcare and affordable housing projects are intact and bound to bear fruit
• Ruto criticised the Judiciary for allegedly promoting impunity, stating that some leaders collude with the judicial system to halt his development agenda
• He further ordered his executive to defy orders aimed at derailing their projects and denying Kenyans development

Nancy Odindo, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics, news, and feature stories across digital and print media in Kenya.

President William Ruto has expressed frustration with the Judiciary for trying to stop his key projects, alleging corruption and deliberate obstruction of his development plans.

What has judiciary done to development agendas?

Speaking at a funeral in Nyandarua county, the head of state accused the beneficiaries of corruption of collaborating with corrupt judicial officers to obstruct development in Kenya.

This accusation came after the court temporarily suspended Universal Health Care and affordable housing projects.

“Our Judiciary, we respect you but judicial impunity by corrupt judicial officers must stop in Kenya...we’ll stop it and whatever it takes,” he said.

“There are a few people, two or three, who went to court and made a deal, and then everything was put on hold... the road was put on hold, Universal Health Coverage was put on hold, housing matters were put on hold... we need to ask questions, we must have a discussion,” he went on.

President Ruto also criticised the Judiciary led by Chief Justice Martha Koome, accusing it of promoting impunity.

He further directed the Executive to disregard any orders that hinder the country's development agenda.

“Judicial impunity must stop in Kenya. We will stop it. Now the court is saying we shouldn't build until the judiciary gives us an okay. Just do it, Mr. PS Mbugua; allocate funds for this road so we can start work,” he said.

NHIF funds were stolen, claims Ruto

President Ruto stated that some leaders used the court system to hinder changes to healthcare after stealing 50% of NHIF funds to further their gains.

“Some few individuals have gone to court with three of their accomplices who are used to embezzling NHIF funds. Now they have been stealing 50 percent of NHIF funds. We have had fake hospitals and fake doctors.

"Now they have united and are looking for those corrupt judicial officers so they can continue stealing half of the NHIF money; That my friends cannot continue," he asserted.

Ruto tears opposition in New Year message

The first in command, during his 2023 end-of-year address in Nakuru State Lodge, accused his opponents of sabotaging his development agenda by spreading division, conflict, and anarchy in the country, adding that most petitions against his policies are sponsored by people with selfish interests.

"You will agree with me that there is something fundamentally wrong with the opposition without any viable alternative whose only purpose is division, conflict, and anarchy. There is something wrong with litigation sponsored by hostage-taking vested interests with the sole aim of delaying, derailing, and sabotaging the delivery of public programmes and defeating public interest.

Time and time again, Kenyans have clearly and manifestly demonstrated their devotion to pursuing opportunities for progress by voting for progressive policies, as they did in the last election," Ruto said.