Chief Justice David Maraga has decried blatant mistreatment by the Executive. Maraga said the office of the Chief Justice was not treated with respect accorded to other arms of government.
Speaking during a press briefing at the supreme Court of Kenya on Monday, November 4, the CJ detailed a a number of incidents which he claimed aimed at disrespecting the Judiciary.
He said the proposed budget cut which were halted by High Court threatened to paralyse the operations of the Judiciary and make it a puppet of the Judiciary.
Maraga narrated how he had been undermined by being denied access to VIP lounge at the airport when receiving important vistors.
“I once went to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and I was told the VIP lounge at the ground floor is reserved for the deputy president, I doubt even DP is aware of that.
I used the KQ lounge.
“I am not bothered about that but there are times I receive important visitors like CJs from other countries, where do I take them?”
He further said he had no access to status cars as other top-ranking government officials like the Speaker of the Senate and the National Assembly.
“The CJ has no Mercedes car. When we applied we were told to keep to the minimum of 2500cc, that there would be no wastage…Yet the 2 speakers of the NA have Mercedes 500.
Is it wastage only when the CJ is concerned? The CJ is not accorded the respect of his office in state functions. I have decided that unless that happens, I will choose which State functions to attend.”
He further said he was treated with contempt during the recent Mashujaa Day celebrations at Mana Ngina Drive in Mombasa where he accessed the dais through a sidewalk and the MC did not acknowledge his arrival.
“Unless I am treated with dignity of my office I will choose which State functions to attend,” he said.
“ Let the office of the Chief Justice be treated with respect given to other offices like the Office of the President and Speakers of Parliament,” said Maraga.
Maraga’s cry has rekindled memories of ” We shall revisit” pronouncement by President Uhuru Kenyatta after the Supreme Court nullified the August 26, 2017 poll.
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