OPINION: Petition against Chief justice Maraga a Jubilee trick

The timing of the petition for the removal of Chief Justice Maraga by first-time legislator Hon. Wambugu Ngunjiri leaves a lot to be desired. It appears it was a calculated move by Jubilee Party operatives to test the waters on public perception then take a quick about-turn.

The ploy was to cleanse the president's perceived revenge mission on the Chief Justice for the landmark September first Supreme Court decision to nullify the August 8 presidential election. In a surprising change of tune, President Uhuru has asked Hon. Wambugu to withdraw the petition before the Judicial Service Commission and focus on the October 17 repeat poll.

This comes on the heels of the Jubilee Party rank and file distancing themselves from the petition for removal of the Chief Justice by one of the party members.

President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Jubilee Party disagreed with the Supreme Court ruling and vowed to revisit the issue once re-elected. The president displayed open anger particularly towards the Chief Justice David Maraga threatening and reminding the Chief justice that he was dealing with President not 'president-elect'. These utterances angered the Abagusii community sparking protests in Kisii and Nyamira counties where the Chief Justice hails from.

It is not clear how long the attacks on the Supreme Court by the Jubilee Party members will last but after October 17 repeat presidential elections, the Chief Justice will have to swear in either President Uhuru Kenyatta for a second and final term or his rival Raila Odinga who filed the presidential petition challenging the validity of the re-election of the former.