NAIROBI, Kenya — Former Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) Chairperson Macharia Njeru has claimed that President William Ruto, while serving as Deputy President, threatened him over the authority’s work, adding to the growing public debate on the independence of State institutions.
In a statement posted on Friday, Njeru said his experience mirrored recent claims by former National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Prof. Njuguna Ndung’u, who alleged that President Ruto routinely overruled government institutions, creating an environment where public officials acted out of fear.
“I’ve heard Prof. Ndungu’s views on Ruto overrunning government institutions. I experienced it firsthand when I was the Chair of IPOA while he was the Deputy President,” Njeru said.
According to Njeru, Ruto telephoned him one morning and allegedly issued a warning over IPOA’s actions.
“He called me early one morning, threatening that if IPOA didn’t comply, he and Uhuru would treat us as they did the opposition. I told him to proceed,” he claimed.
Njeru questioned why leaders of independent institutions fear political pressure, arguing that constitutional office holders should carry out their mandates without intimidation.
“I don’t understand why people in institutions fear a single man just because he’s President, but he’s not God. We’re all mortal. As the Romans would say, ‘Memento mori,'” he wrote.
His remarks come amid renewed scrutiny of the independence of State institutions following comments by Prof. Ndung’u, who recently accused President Ruto of overrunning government institutions and forcing public officials to conform out of fear.
