After a barrage of tirades against the Judiciary in September by President Uhuru Kenyatta, Supreme Court judges seem to have buried the hatchet.
On September 1 when the apex court nullified the August 8 polls and ordered for fresh polls within 60 days, Uhuru together with a battery of Jubilee leaders in a rally at Burma termed the judges as “wakora” (thugs).
He promised to “fix” them after his re-election. His Deputy William Ruto shared the same sentiments.
“Even if you are so stupid, ask yourself something: The people elected an MCA, results were transmitted, and no one asked questions. Those of MPs and senators were transmitted, and no one asked questions and they have been sworn in…Those of governors were transmitted, no one asked questions. Now how do four people and wake up and say there was a technicality in the transmission of the results of the president only? How?
“It is impossible for three or four people to invalidate the will of 15 million Kenyans who voted. Haiwezekani (impossible). We have, however, respected that decision in as much as we don’t agree with it. We respect it but I can assure you we shall revisit this matter,” he said in State House the following day.
However, on Monday during the delivering of the judgment on October 26 repeat elections, the six judges led by Chief Justice David Maraga said no one amongst them could be intimidated by what the President said.
“No judge of this court was intimidated by the choice of words from the third respondent,” said Justice Smokin Wanjala who read the judgment on behalf of his colleagues on the bench.
Since the nullification of the August 8 polls, Uhuru met the Chief Justice David Maraga for the first time on October 20, during Madaraka Day fete.
His “wakora” statement drew criticism at the time with opposition politicians calling him out of order.
But even in the face or criticism, Uhuru did not back down on his word. Instead, he said that, “We are law abiding people and want peace but that should not be misconstrued to mean we are fools or cowards.”
“To say that I am peaceful doesn’t mean that I am a Bishop.”
Maraga in response to the threats by the Jubilee Party boss said he is ready to guard the Constitution even if it means death.
“I have restrained myself from responding to these false statements so as not to give them undue prominence or credence. However, they continue to be claimed and peddled around as if they are the truth, and in total disregard of their corrosive effect on the perception of the independence of the Judiciary,” said Maraga as quoted by the Standard.
In a separate statement days later, he said: “These attacks are denigrating, demeaning and degrading and are meant to intimidate, threaten and cow the institution and individual judges, but we are prepared to pay the ultimate price to protect the rule of law.”