Supreme Court judges were threatened after they nullified the re-election of President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto following the August 8, 2017, general election, Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu has revealed.
After the nullification, Kenyatta threatened the judges and warned that he would revisit the Judiciary after he officially assumes his second term after the fresh October 26 presidential elections.
He linked the judges to the opposition - NASA coalition saying they were working in their favour, something that saw Chief Justice David Maraga address the press condeming threats by the Executive to the Judiciary.
"We were threatened, that is for sure. I must confess because I don’t know how to clothe a lie,” said Mwilu on Monday
She, however, said she was not sure if the judges were cowed following the threats.
“I am not sure whether the threats cowed the judges as to affect our subsequent decisions. But the threats never entered my soul and I thank God it never did," said the DCJ.
She was responding to a question by Kapenguria MP Samuel Muoroto. He had asked whether the four Supreme Court judges who ruled in favour of NASA's presidential petition were threatened.
“You did well to nullify the presidential election,” Mr Muoroto told the DCJ who was representing Maraga.
“You were threatened and now all the gains the Judiciary made are being taken away. The new Constitution gave you lots of powers and the Judiciary has been done a good job. But the attacks by the politicians seem to have shaken you. Can you be frank and tell us the truth?” he inquired.
Mwilu further urged members of the National Assembly to strive to understand the concept of judicial review.
She said this would minimize conflicts between the two arms of government - Parliament and Judiciary, adding that no arm of government holds a position superior to the terms of the law.She was representing Maraga at the Post-Election Seminar for members of the National Assembly which officially kicked off at the Pride Inn Paradise Hotel in Mombasa on Monday.