Members of the G7 Alliance over the weekend defied a court order banning debate on the eligibility of Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyata and Eldoret North MP William Ruto to vie for presidency.

Uhuru, Ruto and Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka said the ruling made by Justice Isaac Lenaola, following the confirmation of charges against them by the ICC, denies Kenyans their freedom of speech.

Speaking at Tononoka in Mombasa, theG7 members said Kenyan citizens, and not the courts, are the ones to decide on who will be the country's fourth president. They said denying Kenyans an opportunity to discuss the matter is wrong. Kalonzo said the order contradicts the constitution adding that it should not have issued in the first place. He said the order will be annulled. "I am a lawyer by profession and I spoke to Justice Lenaola who told me that he will vacate the order when it comes forhearing on February 17. In the legal profession, to vacate an order is to make it void or to annul it," said the VP.

Ruto and Uhuru said they will only obey the voice of the people who will vote. The said if the people decide that they should not be on the ballot box, then they will step down. The duo suggested that the ruling was part of a wider scheme by their opponents to confuse the electorate. "Let them not look for shortcuts. Let us meet at the ballot box. Kenya should be having a competition of ideas," said Ruto.

Uhuru said the 42 million Kenyans are the ones supposed to make the decision on whether they should run for president or not. "We will only obey the decision of the people,"declared Uhuru, who said their government will be composed of people from all the tribes, religions and races in Kenya. Dujis MP Aden Duale said he will introduce a Bill seekingto detach Kenya from the Rome Statute once Parliament resumes. He accused the ICC of being against Muslims and African states.

In his ruling, Lenaola said, "In view of the factthat this court is now seized of the question as to whether Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto are qualified or not to run for the upcoming Presidential elections the issue is now sub judice and all persons and authorities are not to discuss the matter in public failure to which appropriate actions may betaken."

The ruling was made after the Kenya Youth Parliament, Kenya Youth League, and registered voters Patrick Njuguna ,Augustino Netto and Charles Omanga, moved to court wanting Uhuru and Ruto barred from running for president. The ruling has also elicited sharp reactions from politicians and the civil society. Gender minister Naomi Shaban said those trying to block Uhuru and Ruto from running for president are misguided as the decision lies with Kenyan voters.

Energy minister Kiraitu Murungi accused Uhuru and Ruto's opponents of cheekily trying to take them out of the race. "Now they are using the courts to try and stop them. Is it the courts that vote or Kenyans?" posed Murungi. He said the G7Alliance is a full bus but only lacks a driver. "We have the bus right here. Now we want you to choose the driver," he told the crowd.