Deputy President William Ruto has defended the Judiciary a day after former Prime Minister Raila Odinga criticised the Supreme Court over the judgement that dismissed his petition challenging President Uhuru Kenyatta’s election victory.
Mr Ruto said Mr Odinga’s condemnation of Chief Justice Willy Mutunga undermines key institutions in the country.
“We want people not to insult the Judiciary, we want it respected. We will cause anarchy if we dismiss institutions,” said Mr Ruto in Sotik, Bomet County Saturday.
“We must respect the institutions we have created to work for us so that they can perform. If we respect the institutions, we will find solutions to the challenges we are facing,” he said.
National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale, his deputy Naomi Shaban and Deputy Majority Leader Charles Keter (Senate), who had accompanied the Deputy President, dismissed Mr Odinga as a troublemaker saying he does not respect institutions.
On Friday, Mr Odinga accused Dr Mutunga of presiding over an “injustice” and told him to stop complaining about bribery allegations levelled against him.
“Remember that 800 pages of our evidence were struck out by the Supreme Court with a stroke of the pen. Then the same court goes ahead to say that there was no evidence, is this justice or injustice?” Mr Odinga posed
“When the Chief Justice says he is offended, he should know that there are Kenyans out there who are more offended than him,” a visibly agitated Mr Odinga added.
It was the first time Mr Odinga was publicly expressing his views on Dr Mutunga, who chaired the six-judge bench that heard his petition.
Mr Odinga said that whereas he respected the Supreme Court judgment, he did not agree with it.
“I said that I respect the ruling but that does not mean I agree with it,” he said.
After Dr Mutunga and Supreme Court Justices Philip Tunoi, Njoki Ndung’u, Smokin Wanjala, Jackton Ojwang’ and Mohamed Ibrahim released a detailed judgement, Kenyans took to social media to condemn the court.
This prompted Dr Mutunga to dismiss bribery allegation in a Facebook posting.
“Recently the Judiciary, and particularly the Supreme Court, has been the target of attacks from Kenyans. We have been the target of attacks, slander, libel, and outright indecent, vulgar and unacceptable abuses.
“For me, the most hurtful allegation was that I had been bribed in the presidential petition. I did not know where to turn. I have never been offered a bribe in my life. I have no doubt in my mind that anybody who dares offer me a bribe, regardless of status, would be the first one I arrest under the Constitution and the laws of this land,” Dr Mutunga said.
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