Even has he tried to warm up to the ‘handshake’ wave across the country, Chief Justice David Maraga is still a troubled and marked man.
Maraga’s decision to accompany President Uhuru Kenyatta during his tour of Kisii County on Wednesday sparked a serious debate and had tongues wagging as others postulated that it was a plot by the executive to capture the judiciary.
The Chief Justice was party of the party that welcomed the President and later joined him in his tour of the region where they made several stopovers.
The CJ was also pictured as being third in line after the Deputy President William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga to welcome the President.
This did not augur well with members of parliament, especially senators.
Siaya Senator James Orengo lashed out at Maraga for participating in a political gathering noting that it was shameful to see the CJ standing in line ‘waiting to be recognized’ as it paints a bad picture of the Judiciary.
“It is bad manners for the Judiciary…and the Chief Justice must be told. He is bringing dishonor to the courts.
“That should never ever happen in a democratic constitutional country which has three arms of government which are equal,” said Orengo.
On the other hand, Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula reminded the CJ that he represents the whole country and not Kisii region.
“When I heard the Chief Justice saying that he is happy that the executive has come to bring development to his homeland…he is not the Chief Justice of Kisii.
“He is the Chief Justice of the Republic of Kenya,” he said.
The President was in Kisii to open the Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital and the event was attended by various politicians including NASA leader Raila Odinga, Kisii Governor James Ongwae and Senator Sam Ongeri among others.
Here are mixed reactions from other Kenyans.
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