President William Ruto has promised to respect the rulings of the country’s courts, despite having previously questioned several judicial decisions. Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony for 15 new Court of Appeal judges at State House on Wednesday, he emphasized the crucial role of an independent judiciary.

Ruto said his concerns regarding judicial decisions “are expressed not out of disregard or contempt for the courts, but out of a duty to speak honestly about the consequences such decisions have on the lives and livelihoods of the Kenyan people”.

The new judges are expected to help reduce case backlogs, improve dispute resolution timelines, and strengthen public confidence in the justice system. As of December 2025, the Court of Appeal was handling 14,300 pending cases, with an overall case clearance rate of 68%.

“The rule of law must prevail… because without it, no policy, no program, no government, and no country can endure,” Ruto said.