The war of words between former and current Chief Justices is far from over after Willy Mutunga attacked the sitting CJ accusing her of politicizing the Judiciary.
Mutunga accuses CJ Martha Karambu Koome of acting in the interest of the executive rather than putting the interest of Kenyans and delivery of justice first.
Speaking to the media on Saturday, October 30, Mutunga faulted the sitting Chief Justice for misusing the independence of the Judiciary, and making matters of national interest personal.
He stated that as much as the Judiciary is an independent office, it will not be able to serve the public if the integrity of the office holder is questionable.
“Independence of the Judiciary without integrity is nothing. Integrity is the core,” Mutunga stated.
He proceeded to advise the Chief Justice to avoid making matters of national interest personal, because it ends up building unnecessary tension.
“You don’t want to lead a country where little things like this should look vindictive. You are giving people the amnesia they shouldn’t have.”
Mutunga proceeded to advise CJ Koome not to give orders to the President, but instead strive to see the three arms of the government work together in harmony.
“The Judicial Service Commission should sit down and talk with the President. There is really no need of politicizing and ethnicizing this issue. That is what they are doing, and it won’t end well,” he added.
Notably, the former Chief Justice challenged the current office holder to emulate him when it comes to solving matters between the arms of government.
He mentioned that when he was in office, the President did not agree with everything the Judiciary recommended, but they did not at any point result to war.
“This is not the first time the President is refusing to swear in Judges. He did the same in 2015, but what we did was sit down and have dialogue with him.”
Mutunga's sentiments came just a day after Martha Koome took him head-on for asking Judges and Magistrates to go on strike in solidarity with the six refused appointment and promotion by the Head of State.
She mentioned that although everyone is free to give their opinion, what the former Chief Justice was doing threatened the lives of many Kenyans when it comes to access to justice.
