CJ Maraga: Juniors are allowed into State House while I'm told to wait

Kenya's Chief Justice David Maraga. He expressed his frustration in what he views as belittling and mistreatment from the Executive. [Photo Courtesy]

Chief Justice David Maraga has aired his frustrations over what he views as belittling, under-appreciation and mistreatment of his office and the Judiciary.

In the wake of the recent move by the National Treasury to reduce the judiciary's budgetary allocation; Maraga shared his frustrations by the Executive today.

During a morning press briefing, the CJ said he wanted to share his frustrations with Kenyans.

 "The judiciary has been treated and continues to be treated contemptuously," said the CJ before revealing several incidents that he believes demean the Judiciary.

Despite the powers bestowed on him by the constitution, Maraga appeared powerless as he decried how some members of the Executive want to cripple the court system.

CJ Maraga said each of the two speakers of the parliament has been assigned Mercedes cars yet he has not been assigned one.

He claimed that his request to have the high-end ride was turned down with frugality being used as an excuse

"The CJ has no Mercedes car. When we applied we were told to keep to the minimum of 2500cc engines.They said they don't want wastage"

The Chief Justice also cited previous reports that alleged a ploy to withdraw his police traffic clearance. Case in point is where he says he was accorded "very junior government officials" to clear roads for him. "And I was told that was a mistake. A mistake? That is very interesting," said Maraga.

Despite his high-rank, Maraga thinks he is not respected duly as lower government officials are placed above him in what he believes is a deliberate move to despise him.

"Cabinet secretaries and Principal Secretaries are cleared to enter State House before the Chief Justice. The CJ is told to wait," said Maraga.

The CJ also complained about his presence being ignored during the October 20 Mashujaa Day celebrations.

"I have decided that unless I am treated with dignity due to my office I will choose which of those state functions to attend," he said.

Maraga further says that he has been completely barred from accessing the VIP lounge at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and he is forced to receive prominent people and other Chief Justices at the regular passengers' lounge.

"Last year I was flying with one of the CJs who came at my request. As an official duty, I had to go to the KQ lounge with him. It was so crowded that somebody had to vacate a seat for him."

Despised at home and admired abroad is what Maraga describes himself. Overwhelmed by the nice treatment in other countries leaves him wondering what is wrong with his home country.

"When I go to other countries I am treated very well and I wonder what is happening in my own country."

Two years since President Uhuru Kenyatta publicly swore to "fix" the judiciary after the nullification of his 2017 election victory, the Chief Justice now says there is a plot to kick him out of his office.

"I am told that some ministers and Principle Secretaries are bragging that the CJ will or should be removed before the end of this year. Really? Kumbe hii nchi iko na wenyewe (so this country has its owners)."

Maraga has accused some ministers, principal secretaries and other mandarins of crippling the judiciary because the courts did not favour them in tender and procurement cases.

"I am told these are the people I am supposed to talk to give me money and run the judiciary. Am I being done favour? I will not go to anybody."

He rubbished claims from some government officials to have judges and magistrates vetted despite being vetted twice since he assumed office.

"We will not allow that to happen and if it should happen, let it start from the other arms of government. We are tired of being the punching bag all the time."

According to Maraga, the mistreatment from the Executive is an attempt to control the judiciary.

"They want to control the judiciary. They want to make us puppets and we will not be puppets."

CJ Maraga's venting has elicited reactions online with most netizens reminding him of President Uhuru's vow to fix the Supreme Court after it initially declared his victory "invalid, null and void" in 2017.

"We shall respect but we shall revisit this agenda. We clearly have a problem. Who even elected you? We have a problem and we must fix it," fumed Uhuru.

Additional reporting by Japheth Ogila.