Maraga unleashes stinging attack on Duale

Chief Justice David Maraga has condemned National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale’s attack on High Court judge George Odunga, saying his utterances and threats impinged on the hard-won independence of the Judiciary.

The Chief Justice defended Justice Odunga commending him as being a “major factor in the transformation of Kenya’s Judiciary” with his conduct and decisions having brought the institution international acclaim and respect.

“Under my leadership, the Judiciary and the judges will continue to discharge their constitutional mandate independently, fairly, impartially, and firmly as guided by the Constitution,” said the Chief Justice David Maraga, sending a warning to other arms of government to avoid the instinct to meddle in the affairs of the Judiciary.

The CJ’s condemnation followed hot on the heels of equally strong sentiments expressed by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) early on Thursday over Mr Duale’s attack on the High Court judge.

“That this was intended as a threat or an attempt to intimidate is clear from the context. The statement was made as the honourable judge was hearing or preparing to rule on the application before him this morning,” said LSK President Isaac Okero.

Shortly after passing the hotly disputed election law amendments on Thursday, the National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale threatened to pass a motion to discuss the conduct of Justice Odunga, who at the time was hearing CORD’s petition seeking to stop the then ongoing special session that had been called by the Speaker Justin Muturi.

Mr Duale accused the judge of playing tribal politics, utterances that have now drawn condemnations from the public and influential leaders including the Chief Justice and the LSK president.