Kenya’s CJ tells those against independent judiciary to seek referendum to abolish it
Kenya’s Chief Justice David Maraga has condemned verbal attacks on the judiciary by political leaders allied to the ruling Jubilee Party, saying they should seek a referendum to abolish it if they were dissatisfied with its rulings.
“The judiciary is an arm of government equal to the executive and the legislature. If leaders are tired of having a strong and independent judiciary, they should call a referendum and abolish it altogether,” Maraga said in a statement released on Tuesday evening.
The attacks began following the Supreme Court‘s September 1 nullification of the re-election of President Uhuru Kenyatta, citing electoral irregularities.
Following that ruling, President Kenyatta said he accepted it, but that he disagreed with it.
In campaign rallies that followed the ruling, Uhuru and his deputy William Ruto blasted the judiciary, calling the judges that were for the nullification of the election as “wakora” meaning crooks.
The president went on to say that he will revisit the case after the fresh October 17 election.
Maraga in his statement said that the judiciary would continue to discharge its duties as mandated by the constitution.
“…the judiciary will continue to discharge its mandate in accordance with the Constitution and individual oaths of office,” he said.
The statement comes following the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairperson’s decision to suspend the body’s ICT Director and two other staffers for failing to discharge their mandates as required by law.
The body said only two candidates will be allowed to contest the new election; President Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition leader Raila Odinga.
