We Were Threatened - DCJ Philomena Mwilu on Supreme Court Ruling

Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu on Monday confirmed that members of the Supreme Court bench received threats after nullifying President Uhuru Kenyatta's August 2017 presidential election.

DCJ Mwilu, however, stated that the threats did not affect the Judges' subsequent ruling that upheld the October 26 repeat presidential poll.

"We were threatened, that is for sure. I must confess because I don’t know how to clothe a lie.

"I am not sure whether the threats cowed the judges as to affect our subsequent decisions. But the threats never entered my soul and I thank God it never did," DCJ Mwilu conveyed.

[caption caption="File image of the Supreme Court during past proceedings"][/caption]

Justice Mwilu made the remarks while speaking to members of the National Assembly during a post-election seminar held in Mombasa.

She was responding to Kapenguria Member of Parliament (MP) Samuel Moroto who pressed her to explain whether the alleged threats had affected their resolve at the Judiciary.

"You did well to nullify the presidential election. You were threatened and now all the gains the Judiciary made are being taken away.

"The new Constitution gave you lots of powers and the Judiciary has been doing a good job. But the attacks by the politicians seem to have shaken you. Can you be frank and tell us the truth?" the MP pressed.

Belgut MP Nelson Koech sought clarification on the alleged compromise of judges where in some instances, their rulings have been leaked to the public prior to determination of the cases.

"Who does research for the judges. This must be reviewed because such researchers are giving the judiciary a bad name," MP Koech stated.

[caption caption="DCJ Philomena Mwilu"][/caption]

In her parting shot, DCJ Mwilu urged the parliamentarians to respect the Judiciary and work collaboratively as arms of government.

"No institution ought to have more respect and solemn consideration for all aspects of the sovereignty of the people of Kenya than Parliament. When the Sovereignty of the people is challenged through disregard for orders and decisions of the court, no institution ought to be more enraged than the institution that most directly represents the exercise of such sovereignty.

"As the Legislature. You are the people, and you must act with steadfast commitment and single-mindedness to protect the public interest. You must, where legally enabled, summon, criticise, investigate, and censure all those who purport to impair and diminish the rule of law," she urged.