NARC-Kenya party leader Martha Karua has opposed calls for the sacking of Anti-Corruption Court Chief Magistrate Douglas Ogoti.
Lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi has been in the forefront demanding for Ogoti's dismissal following his move to issue tough bail terms to accused persons facing graft allegations.
The magistrate on Tuesday released former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero on a Sh8 million cash bail or a Sh20 million bond and ordered him to surrender his passport to the court.
Previously, he had released Samburu Governor Moses Lenolkulal on a Sh100 million cash bail or Sh150 million bond before the terms were reduced by the High Court.
Senior Counsel Abdullahi accused Ogoti of "weaponising the right to bail into a lethal weapon in the hands of the State" and asked Judicial Service Commission to fire him.
However, Karua has defended the magistrate, arguing instead he should be promoted for safeguarding public coffers, which she opined, the courts have been treating as less important.
"He's doing fine in a country where theft of public funds appears to be trivialized by the courts. He represents the sentiments of many. He sure deserves a promotion!" the former presidential contender tweeted on Wednesday.
But in a quick rejoinder, Abdullahi insisted Ogoti should be sacked since he was seeking fame by giving corruption suspects unreasonable bail terms.
"As a former magistrate you know better than many the job description of magistrates especially in bail applications...and drama queens with an eye on newspaper headlines, playing to the public gallery at the expense of the right to bail "on reasonable terms"...are unnecessary," he told Karua who served as a magistrate before she ventured into politics.