Chief Justice David Maraga. [Photo/The Star]
Chief Justice David Maraga has spoken on the latest petition seeking his removal and that of his fellow members of the Supreme Court.
While addressing journalists at the Supreme court on Tuesday, Maraga said the petitions are just threats that are seeking to undermine the judiciary.
"That this is happening at a time when the judiciary is starting to hear the 339 petitions filed in various courts at the same time individual judges particularly of the Supreme court as well as other judicial officers and staff have been attacked, threatened and negatively profiled on the social media," said Maraga.
"Senior political leaders have also threatened the judiciary promising to cut it to size and teach us a lesson. This attacks are demeaning and meant to intimidate and cow the institution and individual judges such acts are not only unlawful but savage," he added.
The Chief Justice has therefore stated that if any of his staff is harmed in any way then people who issued the scary statements will be held to account.
"The Judicial Service Commission(JSC) condemns these mindless acts of aggression on the Judiciary and reiterate that if anything happens to the individual judges, staff or their families those making these inciting sentiments will be held personally responsible," he added.
Maraga also hit on Inspector General Joseph Boinnet for relaxing on his mandate to provide security to the Judiciary staff.
"The JSC notes with dismay that the Inspector General of police who is expected to provide security to all government facilities has repeatedly ignored calls to act exposing judicial officers, property, and litigants to danger," he said.
Maraga also took time to lecturer leaders on the powers and privileges assigned to the Judiciary.
"The Judiciary is an arm of government equal to the Executive and Legislature if leaders are tired of having a strong and independent judiciary they should call a referendum and abolish it altogether before that happens the Judiciary will continue to discharge its mandate in accordance with the Constitution and the individual oath of office. The Judiciary will never seek to direct the other arms of government about how to perform their functions in the same vein we will not allow anybody to dictate to us how to discharge our mandate as given to us by Kenyans and the Constitution," he added.
Finally, Maraga urged judges to continue with their work without fear or favor and also urged Kenyans of goodwill to stand with the Judiciary at this time when they are being tossed to and fro by the politicians.