Ruto backs new Supreme Court building plans

President William Ruto has pledged support for expanding judiciary infrastructure in response to demands for a new Supreme Court building.

 Ruto made the remarks during the 12th anniversary celebration of the Supreme Court’s operation on Monday, November 4.

 He commended various government arms for collaborating with the judiciary.

  “I am encouraged by the increased confidence with which various arms of government are exploring areas of partnership and collaboration, breaking long-standing barriers to unlock the power of institutional synergy,” he noted.

 Ruto explained that transparent partnerships benefit the constitution's vision.

 “Through this approach, the Executive has found an opportunity to engage the Legislature and Judiciary over the national budget and to support the expansion of the judiciary's infrastructure, among other consultative endeavours,” he said.

 His comments followed an appeal from Chief Registrar of the Judiciary Winfrida Mokaya, who requested resources for a new Supreme Court building.

 “Your Excellency, as discussed this morning, your attention was drawn to the need for a modern Supreme Court building, a space that would foster judicial discourse and provide an optimal working environment for our judges,” Mokaya said.

 She mentioned a design competition for a contemporary Supreme Court building.

 Mokaya referred to the current Supreme Court building, which has stood for over 90 years, as a hindrance to modernisation.

 “The building is nearly a century old and its architecture does not serve the present needs of the Supreme Court.

  Its internal design is far from being functionally adequate. The building as it is does not embody the gravitas of the role of the Supreme Court as envisaged in the Constitution,” she added.

 Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja noted discussions to allocate land for a new Supreme Court building.

  “Your Excellency, I know we have discussed our favourite topic, which is the land over the year, the Nairobi County land that will soon host the Supreme Court building. For us to have a legacy, after consultations, we will all be proud of the land to host the Supreme Court buildings,” Sakaja noted.

 Ruto expressed commitment to collaborating with the judiciary to develop systems that uphold the constitution and promote democracy.