Chief Justice David Maraga may dissolve Parliament and send President Uhuru Kenyatta home, controversial Political analyst Mutahi Ngunyi has said.
The controversial analyst believes that the no-nonsense CJ who nullified the Presidential elections in 2017, may dissolve Parliament over the two-thirds gender bill that has failed to pass through Parliament.
‘This MAN will DISSOLVE parliament over the GENDER rule. And with the SAME stroke, he will SEND Uhuru HOME.’ Reads Part of a tweet on Mutahi Ngunyi’s page.
This #NationMediaGarbage is NOT ORGANIC. It has a SPONSOR. What we SHOULD be talking about is the MARAGA speech at OXFORD. This MAN will DISSOLVE parliament over the GENDER rule. And with the SAME stroke, he will SEND Uhuru HOME! The CIVILIAN COUP never DIED.
— Mutahi Ngunyi (@MutahiNgunyi) June 6, 2019
Early this year, Parliament failed to pass the law allowing for the two third gender rule, opening a leeway for its dissolution. Already, two petitions have been filed in court seeking to have Maraga dissolve the National assembly and Senate. It is these Petitions that Ngunyi was referring to.
The activist has pointed to recent remarks made by Maraga in the UK on Africa’s leadership during his lecture at the Oxford University.
He spoke at the Oxford Union Conference in the UK dubbed: ‘The quest for constitutionalism in Africa: a reflection on the interface between institutions, leadership and faith.’
Delivering a lecture this evening at Oxford University where I was invited by the Oxford Union to talk about "Constitutionalism in Africa: A Reflection on the Interface between Institutions, Leadership and Faith." I had a lively interaction with students and faculty members. pic.twitter.com/aLJkZol15i
— David Maraga (@dkmaraga) June 4, 2019
Maraga in his lecture accused the political elite, in the Executive and Parliament, for “cherry-picking” provisions of the Constitution, only implementing those that safeguard their personal or sectarian interests.
Citing failure to tackle corruption and impunity, vote rigging and dithering in passing laws to help more women get into power, the CJ queried whether the new legal regime has worked for Kenyans despite the same being praised as one of the most progressive and transformative constitutions in the continent.
He further noted that the country’s biggest problem is the politicians, tenderpreneurs and bad behaviour that has taken root overtime.
“Left on their own the legislative and executive arms of government, comprising mainly politicians and social elites, will implement the Constitution in an arbitrary manner, cherry-picking the easier and non-contentious provisions, always safeguarding their personal or sectarian interests. That is exactly what they have done in Kenya,” Maraga was quoted by a local daily.
He says the law in Kenya, just as is the case in the rest of Africa, is skewed to benefit business dynasties and tenderpreneurs who influence presidential elections.
He said there is little hope on redeeming the county as Parliament and the Executive continue cherry picking in the implementation of the Constitution.
“Three examples will suffice — failure to implement the gender equality principle under the Kenyan Constitution, failure to fight corruption and impunity and failure to hold credible elections,” a local daily quoted him.