The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
Related Articles
Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah is daring President William Ruto to provide concrete evidence against judges or litigants allegedly involved in receiving bribes to influence court rulings.
Addressing the press on Friday, January 5, Omtatah responded to the Head of State’s accusations against the judiciary, specifically regarding the controversial Housing Levy.
The senator, who initially petitioned against the Affordable Housing Bill, 2023, falling under the Finance Act, 2023, leading to the suspension of the Housing Levy in November 2023, refuted claims that he had bribed High Court judges to sway the ruling.
“The President has baselessly alleged that the judges handling cases related to the Affordable Housing Levy and the Social Insurance Fund were bribed by litigants, including myself, to rule against his two key projects. I want to make it clear that I have not bribed any judge, nor do I have any intention of doing so. I do not even know the methods by which judges are bribed, and I am not morally inclined to engage in such activities,” he stated.
Omtatah further challenged the President to substantiate his accusations with evidence before the courts.
“The President has the right to be heard under the law, and he also has the right to express his concerns, as he has done. He has access to intelligence that I, along with other Kenyans, do not have… I challenge him directly to provide evidence of bribery against any judge or litigant and let the legal process determine the truth,” Omtatah declared.
He expressed concern that the President’s criticisms of the judiciary might extend to the media, which has previously been accused of collaborating with the opposition.
“As the independent judiciary in Kenya faces challenges from the Kenya Kwanza Government, it is likely that the next target will be our free press. This should be a matter of concern for every Kenyan,” the senator added.
This development comes ahead of a Court of Appeal ruling on whether to suspend the Housing Levy on January 26, 2023. Various parties, including the Attorney General, KRA, Treasury, and Parliament, have requested an extension of stay orders to protect the tax’s enforcement beyond its supposed lapse date of January 10. President Ruto recently suggested that his administration would no longer abide by court orders, accusing the judiciary of accepting bribes to undermine the government during a funeral address earlier in the week
