A file photo of DP William Ruto/ DPPSPolitical players continue to weigh in on Chief Justice David Maraga’s Tuesday press statement that affirmed Judiciary’s stand on protection of the constitution in their service.
Justice Maraga said judges are ready to pay the ultimate price to protect the Constitution and the rule of law.
His remarks came at a time when the Judiciary had witnessed sustained attacks on its establishment. Jubilee party has been on record for promising to review the powers of the Supreme Court and the Judiciary at large in what President Uhuru Kenyatta termed as a move to “fix” mistakes in the third arm of the government.
On Tuesday however, Justice Maraga said the attacks and protests against the Supreme Court verdict on the presidential poll petition were meant to scare the Judiciary.
In response, he said Judges were ready to defend the independence of the institution.
“Individual Judges particularly of the Supreme Court as well as other judicial officers and staff have been attacked, threatened and negatively profiled on social media,” Justice Maraga said.
He went on: “senior political leaders have threatened the Judiciary, promising to cut it to size and teach us a lesson.”
In his understanding as the President of the Supreme Court, Maraga said the attacks were degrading, demeaning and further meant to intimidate, threaten and cow the institution and the individual judges.
DP William Ruto went to his Twitter page and alluded that Justice Maraga has started to take sides.
“So has CJ taken sides? Listening to the tone, language & drift of Maraga's lecture the only phrase missing is NASA HAO! TIBIN! & TIALALA!” he tweeted.
NARC Kenya leader and former Kirinyaga governor aspirant Martha Karua replied DP Ruto saying that decisions made by the Judiciary won’t be always favorable to one’s side but should be respected.
“A judge is a judge even when they rule against you! Our institutions are run by human beings therefore are as imperfect as human beings! These are the systems we have chosen let's respect.” Karua said.
Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichungwa on his part said Maraga and his team should own up for misleading the country in their ruling that annulled President Uhuru Kenyatta’s victory.
“Then they shouldn't act like they are small gods. They have exhibited their biased & should own up. We respected but disagreed with them,” Ichingwa responded.
DP Ruto’s remarks elicited reactions from NASA leaders too.
Suna East legislator Junet Mohammed told the deputy president that no matter how things were happening contrary to his desires, he better get used to them.
Junet said; “Your excellency I know you are not used to this new kenya under the rule of law but it's the journey to Canaan. Welcome on board.”
Elgeyo Marakwet senator Kipchumba Murkomen said that Maraga’s press conference amounted to threats on the public and wondered how the public could access justice in the courts after the CJ’s remarks.
“It is unheard of all over the world, that a judge let alone the Chief Justice can call a press conference to respond to media reports and threaten the members of the public who might find themselves at some point in the courts seeking justice,” Murkomen said on his Twitter page.
He alluded that when the presidential repeat elections pass, Justice Maraga’s press statement will be analyzed too.
“When the political madness created by the Supreme Court will pass away, the press statement issued by the Chief Justice will be studied and analyzed again.”
Former Nairobi governor aspirant Miguna Miguna in rebuttal castigated Murkomen for not appreciating the “insults” rendered to Justice Maraga after the Supreme Court decision.
“Did you believe that CJ @dkmaraga was a piece of furniture when you hurled epithets and threats at him? Now you know, boy, that he is human,” he responded to Murkomen.