The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops has accused the government of disregarding court orders, saying recent political rhetoric against the judiciary is a recipe for lawlessness and anarchy.

In a statement, KCCB Chairperson Archbishop Martin Kivuva expressed concern about the state of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, calling for quick reconstitution of the poll body.

“Ni jukumu la washikadau wanaohusika na haswa rais na wenzake na wale wanaofaa kuteuwa na kutayarisha jambo hili. Bila IEBC tutajikuta tuko karibu na uchaguzi na hata sasa, kuna sehemu mbalimbali zinazohitaji uchaguzi lakini jopo hili ambalo kazi yake ni kuteuwa makamishna haiwezi,” he said.

He added that IEBC’s current state has denied many Kenyans the right to representation citing cases of pending by-elections which Kivuva added could precipitate a crisis.

“Tungependa ichukuliwe kama jambo dhati, jambo muhimu, jambo la kuweka maanane, ili kwamba tusije tukaponoyoka tuingie hali ya vita ndani kwa ndani, na inawezekana kwa sababu ya wale ambao hawana referee dhabiti,” said Kivuva.

President William Ruto has in recent months mounted a war against the judicial arm of the government, accusing it of sabotaging his administration’s agenda.

He even vowed to disregard court orders he says are motivated by ‘judicial impunity’.

His defiance and attacks, which stem from recent court orders halting projects the Kenya Kwanza government intends to implement after legal challenges, saw Chief Justice Martha Koome, warning that Ruto’s administration is setting up the country for chaos and anarchy.

The Institute for Social Accountability (TISA) has since urged national coordinators and politicians, including the president, who do not heed court orders to vacate office since their posts are constitutional and thus their holders are bound by the rule of law.

By Fred Odanga.