Let us meet in court, Prof Mutua tells MP Wambugu

Renowned legal scholar, Prof Makau Mutua,  and human rights expert, Maina Kiai, have written to the Judicial Service Commission entreating it not to allow Nyeri Town MP, Ngunjiri Wambugu, withdraw petition against Chief Justice David Maraga.

The duo are seeking to be admitted to the petition as interested parties in a move intended to clear their names after MP Wambugu accused of them  of orchestrating judicial coup following the nullification of the August 8 presidential poll.

“It is clear from the tone, sequencing and juxtaposition of the content where Prof Mutua and Mr Kiai are referred to in the petition that Mr Wambugu specifically named them in his petition in order to create an impression among the members of the public that the two are law-abiding citizens who thrive on destroying constitutionally established institutions,” read the letter addressed to the Secretary, Judicial Service Commission, Anne Amadi by Waikwa and Company Advocates.

Mr Kiai, a former United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association and Prof Mutua, a former dean at the University at Buffalo School of Law, want an opportunity to defend themselves and “recover some of their reputation because it will give them a chance to show malice, lies and malignancy on Mr Wambugu’s part.”

Wambugu petition

The first-time Jubilee MP filed the petition last week on Thursday seeking the removal of the CJ Maraga over alleged gross misconduct following

In his petition, Ngunjiri claims Maraga allowed civil activists opposed to the Jubilee government to fund the Judiciary through The International Development Law Organization (IDLO).

Ngunjiri claimed renowned legal scholar, Prof Makau Mutua, who is a vocal critic of President Kenyatta is an IDLO board member, an organization whose intent he claimed is to subvert judicial independence.

However, Jubilee leaders came out in droves to disown the petition saying it did not emanate from the party.  President Kenyatta, however, urged him to withdraw the petition, a request he indicated he would obey.