Who is bullying CJ? asks Jubilee

 

NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 20 – Jubilee Alliance flag bearers Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto have declared that they have full confidence in Chief Justice Willy Mutunga and the reformed Judiciary.

Reacting to claims of threats against the Chief Justice, the two leaders called for investigations and tough action against those who are claimed to have intimidated the CJ.

Speaking at a campaign rally in Nakuru County, Ruto maintained that the coalition had faith in the reformed judiciary and urged Mutunga not to succumb to threats.

Ruto maintained that he and the Jubilee presidential flag bearer were firm believers in the rule of law.
He said those arrested over the issue must be made to reveal the masters behind the threats.

Ruto said: “The jubilee believes in the rule of law. If the CJ has been intimidated, the government must act decisively and arrest those behind the threats and ask them who sent them.”

Chief Justice Willy Mutunga earlier on Wednesday revealed that he was being harassed on political grounds, citing threats before a ruling was issued on the integrity case against Kenyatta and Ruto.

The CJ said he received a letter dated February 13, warning him of dire consequences from the dreaded Mungiki sect in the event that the courts issued a ruling against the two.

On February 15, two days after the supposed letter was written, the High Court issued a ruling clearing Kenyatta and Ruto.

Mutunga further accused the State of harassment recalling an instance on February 14 when an immigration official tried to bar him from travelling to Dar-es-Salaam since he did not purportedly have clearance from the Head of the Civil Service Francis Kimemia.

Mutunga said that he and fellow judicial officers were being politically intimidated, ahead of the March 4 general election, but made it clear that he would not be cowed.

“It requires quite some courage, ignorance or political patronage or a combination of all three for an immigration officer, on his own motion, to summon the confidence to stop a Chief Justice from travelling,” he said.

Elsewhere, civil society body Rights Promotion and Protection (RPP) Centre expressed fear that the direct intimidation of the Judiciary was unhealthy especially close to the general election.

In a statement, RPP said that judicial power was derived from the people and should be exercised without intimidation and threats to judicial officers.

“This coming at a time when the country is busy preparing for peaceful elections, the first ever under the new Constitution, is a clear mark that forces of darkness have not let go of the Kenyan people. 

“It smacks utter arrogance and ignorance of individuals being used by the dark forces to try and silence the institutions that can guarantee fairness and freeness in a democratic process, especially in relation to disputes related to elections. We note further that rule of law is the hallmark that ensures justice is done to all, irrespective of their status,” read the statement in part calling for investigations into the matter.