The members of the Mombasa Law Society (MLS) on Friday joined the legal fraternity countrywide to strongly criticize President William Ruto's recent attacks on the judiciary.
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00:00 [chanting]
00:10 [chanting]
00:17 This country, Kenya, has been treated to very distasteful remarks
00:23 from the executive wing of government led by the President of the Republic of Kenya,
00:30 casting aspersions on the standing of the judiciary,
00:35 making disparaging remarks against judges,
00:40 well-esteemed judges who conduct and run the High Court and other superior courts in Kenya.
00:49 And the kind of vibe and character assassination we have seen against the judiciary
00:55 has been well choreographed to intimidate the judiciary
01:01 so that the judiciary could become a conveyor belt
01:06 towards enabling unconstitutional policy arrangements by the executive in this country.
01:16 So as advocates today we are making a march,
01:19 and as you can see all of us we are wearing purple ribbons.
01:24 It's a historic symbol, an emblem in our hearts,
01:29 whenever the rule of law and governance in this country has been threatened.
01:36 Advocates always wear the purple ribbon.
01:40 And the reason we are wearing the purple ribbon and making the march here in Mombasa
01:46 is to remind the President of this country,
01:50 is to remind the executive,
01:53 and to remind the political class that we are where we are as a country
02:00 because of the respect to the rule of law
02:04 and the respect to democratic governance and processes
02:10 that the citizens of the Republic of Kenya enabled by passing the 2010 Constitution.
02:16 Us as advocates, we have no problem whatsoever with the judiciary.
02:22 Ours is to present our clients' case in court.
02:26 Either we are doing them pro bono as public interest litigation
02:30 or we are being paid our professional fees.
02:33 When you say that the advocate has been paid, it's very unfortunate.
02:37 If I have been paid, that means I am the one or I am the conduit of corruption.
02:42 Because I have paid the money, I have been judged,
02:45 and he has given judgment in my favor.
02:48 That's not true. That's not true.
02:50 As we say it, once a judgment or a decision has gone against you,
02:54 you stop crying because the other party has been sued.
02:58 In a court of law, always one side has to win.
03:03 It was not in a mediation program where it's a win-win situation.
03:07 It is in a court of law where facts and evidence are weighed or are put on a scale
03:13 and we have an outcome.
03:15 Either we lose or we win.
03:18 We are given reasons for that.
03:20 When we said it's unconstitutional,
03:22 no one said that the president has a bad relationship with the Kenyans.
03:26 No one said that the Mombogo and Boda Boda have a house.
03:30 No one has denied that.
03:32 But the process, what are you doing to us?
03:36 And we said this.
03:39 And I repeat, when the BBI was suspended,
03:41 they said that God did His will.
03:43 We went back to the church and prayed.
03:46 When the presidential elections, the petition elections were suspended,
03:50 God did His will.
03:52 We went to the church and prayed.
03:56 Now we are told that the process of taxation and cheap housing is unconstitutional
04:05 because of the process.
04:07 We are told that Satan has taken over.
04:11 Is it a must that the state or those in power must be winning in court
04:17 so that we see the judiciary being clean?
04:19 [Silence]