A political storm is ripping through Kenya’s justice system after Judicial Service Commission (JSC) Vice Chairperson Isaac Ruto was spotted at a high-octane United Democratic Alliance (UDA) National Governing Council meeting at State House—an appearance critics say has blown a dangerous hole in the wall separating politics from the judiciary.
The January 26 meeting, chaired by President William Ruto in his capacity as UDA party leader, has now become the epicenter of a controversy threatening to shake public confidence in judicial independence. For many Kenyans, the optics were explosive: a senior judicial gatekeeper seated at the heart of a ruling party’s political strategy forum.
Former JSC Vice Chair Macharia Njeru wasted no time lighting the fuse. In a sharply worded letter to Chief Justice Martha Koome dated January 27, Njeru accused Isaac Ruto of crossing a constitutional red line and demanded his immediate recusal from ongoing judge interviews—and outright resignation from the commission.
“This is not just inappropriate; it is unconstitutional,” Njeru charged, warning that the judiciary risks being perceived as an extension of partisan power rather than an impartial arbiter of justice. He cited Chapter Six of the Constitution and the Judicial Service Code of Conduct, arguing that Ruto’s actions amount to a betrayal of public trust.
The pressure escalated further when the Consumer Federation of Kenya (COFEK) filed a formal petition demanding investigations into Ruto’s conduct, alongside concerns raised about Commissioner Everlyn Olwande. COFEK warned that even the appearance of political bias could fatally damage the credibility of judicial appointments.
Ironically, Isaac Ruto’s political journey adds fuel to the fire. Once a fierce government critic and leader of Chama Cha Mashinani, he later joined President Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza alliance after the 2022 elections. His presidential nomination to the JSC—and rapid rise to Vice Chair—had already unsettled defenders of judicial independence. The State House sighting now appears to confirm their worst fears.
With high-stakes judicial recruitments underway, legal observers warn that the scandal could poison public faith in the courts if left unresolved. So far, Isaac Ruto and the JSC have maintained a stony silence.
As outrage mounts, Kenya finds itself confronting a chilling question: Has politics finally breached the judiciary’s last line of defense? Whether Ruto bows out to protect the institution—or digs in and escalates the crisis—could define the future credibility of Kenya’s justice system.