This archive report was first published on 4 November 2019.
As Kenya battles corruption, the government's decision to slash the Judiciary's budget has raised eyebrows. The move, announced in September, aimed to digitize the courts and enhance the fight against corruption. However, cutting funding for the Judiciary is a contradictory step that undermines the government's efforts to combat graft.
The Judiciary plays a crucial role in upholding the rule of law and dispensing justice. Reducing its budget will only exacerbate the corruption menace, allowing cartels to exploit the system. The government's actions are a far cry from its promise to tackle corruption head-on.
Parliament, which has always been criticized for its high remuneration, has been allowed to maintain its pay despite not deserving it as much as the judges and magistrates. The Judges and Magistrates Board has done an excellent job in ridding the Judiciary of corrupt officials, but reducing the budget will lead to the return of corrupt magistrates and judges.
The government's actions have the potential to become a national security matter, especially in the fight against terrorism. A terror suspect can easily buy justice, undermining the country's efforts to combat terrorism. The government should study the impact of the Sicilian Mafia on the Italian justice system in the 19th Century before embarking on cutting budgets for the Judiciary.
President Uhuru Kenyatta's legacy will be defined by his ability to leave a corruption-free Kenya. To achieve this, the three arms of government – Parliament, Judiciary, and Executive – must work together, speak in one voice, and support each other in the fight against corruption.
