Jubilee Issues Fresh Statement On Petition Filed to Remove CJ Maraga

The Jubilee Party has issued a new statement after a petition was filed seeking the ouster of Chief Justice David Maraga.

Secretary General Raphael Tuju on Thursday stated that the petition was filed by an individual - Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wanbugu - and not the party.

Tuju distanced the party from the petition saying all they wanted was credible elections.

In another twist, a section of MPs from Kisii region led by Jimmy Angwenyi condemned the petition filed against Maraga and demanded its immediate withdrawal.

Speaking outside the Supreme Court on Thursday, Mr Wambugu stated that his petition was challenging Maraga's tenability stating the CJ had instituted "a judicial coup" as the head of the third arm of government.

"I am challenging how he has conducted himself since he was appointed to the Supreme Court. He has allowed Judiciary to be taken hostage by individuals," the Legislator stated.

In the 14-page petition, he added that Maraga exerted undue influence on other judges while delivering the ruling overturning President Uhuru Kenyatta's win. This, according to Wambugu, amounts to gross misconduct.

"If all 7 judges were at the bench the Supreme Court verdict would have been different," he declared.

Ngunjiri further stated that Justice Maraga did not read through the evidence brought before him during the presidential petition hearing.

Meanwhile, Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria has vowed to talk to Mr Wambugu to drop the petition.

"I think that the person with a primary interest in this matter was President Uhuru Kenyatta since he was the candidate after all.... If Uhuru Kenyatta has not found any reason to institute such a petition, then I believe Ngunjiri is largely out of order," Mr Kuria noted.

Read More: Moses Kuria's Surprise Reaction to Petition On Removing CJ Maraga from Office