
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
13 OCTOBER 2026
Kenyans are at risk of being fleeced by an unholy union of Parliament, the Executive and the Judiciary when the institutions entrusted with protecting the public interest instead preside over, enable or defend privileges at public expense. The escalating cost of judges’ car grants is one such concern. At a time when citizens are struggling with the cost of living, unemployment, school fees, healthcare costs and an unsustainable tax burden, the question is simple: Who is protecting the Kenyan taxpayer?
As the Supreme Court prepares to determine the dispute concerning the taxable car grant for judges, we, religious leaders and civil society organisations, call upon the Court and all constitutional institutions to uphold the Constitution, defend the public interest and honour the trust bestowed upon them by the people of Kenya.
Article 1 of the Constitution vests sovereign power in the people. Article 10 binds all State organs, State officers and public institutions to national values including the rule of law, human dignity, equity, social justice, integrity, transparency and accountability. Article 73(1) declares that State authority is a public trust, exercised in a manner that respects the people, brings honour to the nation and serves the people rather than ruling them.
Our position is unequivocal: No institution is above the Constitution. Judicial independence is indispensable, but it must never become judicial exceptionalism. Independence protects judges from intimidation, political interference, and financial retaliation. It does not place public expenditure beyond constitutional scrutiny or make accountability optional.