William Ruto and Rev. Karanja are crying over spilt milk!

I am dismayed by what some Kenyans are saying about the two nominees by the Judicial Service Commission for the position of Chief Justice and Deputy Chief Justice. First, it was Member of Parliament for Eldoret North, William Ruto, who made disparaging remarks about Willy Mutunga, the nominee for the CJ’s position, because of the studs he wears. My question is, what does the stud have to do with one’s understanding of legal issues? If for the many years that Willy Mutunga has been in the public limelight he has not been found to be wanting in terms of integrity, why cause a fuss now about his studs? He has maintained his integrity in spite of wearing studs all this time. Next in line was the National Council of Churches of Kenya General Secretary, Canon Peter Karanja, who questioned the nomination of Willy Mutunga and Nancy Barasa“on account of our Christian values and beliefs”. I am a Christian and I totally disagree with Rev. Karanja. Is the Canon saying that anyone who assumes any public office in the country has to be judged from the perspective of Christian values and beliefs? The Canon has to remember that Kenyan is a secular country and not everyone subscribes to Christian values. The execution of ones duties is not about ones faith but about ones commitment to the fidelity of the constitution of the land, no more, no less. What is important for a country like Kenyan is to have people in leadership, who are men and women of integrity, and who are ready to abide by the dictates of the constitution. The sad thing about the argument by Ruto and Rev. Karanja is that they are only pointing out what they can see on the outside (the stud), but they point out nothing as fundamental as the inner character of the persons who have been nominated, or their past misdeeds as far as public service is concerned. It is the inner character of a person that matters, which is manifested by the actions we see outside. But the two gentlemen fail to point out anything to disqualify either Willy Mutunga or Nancy Barasa, based on their character or performance of their duties previously. In the Bible, Jesus said that it is what comes from inside a man that defiles him and not what goes inside the man. It is the inner stuff that makes a man or woman and not what he or she adorns. The Bible again warns us to keep our hearts with all diligence because out of the heart springs the issues of life! The two gentlemen, who purport to speak for the Christian faith, have failed to show us any significant flaws in the characters of these two distinguished lawyers. The irony of the objections by these two gentlemen is the fact that they both were against the new constitution which has given rise to the selection process that gave us Willy Mutunga and Nancy Barasa. Therefore, we are bound to view their objection with a pinch of salt and ask; are they still crying over spilt milk? If William Ruto wants Willy Mutunga to be barred from holding the office of the Chief Justice simply because he wears a stud and ‘‘talks to genies’’ through them, why is he still an MP even after being accused of very heinous crimes against humanity and the very people he is representing in parliament? And to add salt to injury, he is even aspiring for the highest office in this land, the presidency, yet he has not even cleared his name in as far as the charges that are facing him locally and internationally are concerned? What is more morally shameful, wearing a stud or having your name associated with committing crimes against humanity? I’d rather have a stud-wearing Chief Justice than have a Christian who is associated with corruption and other morally shameful acts!