CJ Willy Mutunga seeks to end Senate, Judiciary impasse

Willy Mutunga during yesterdays hearing by the Parliamentary Constitution Implementation Oversight Committee at County hall. (PHOTO: AGNES RUBE)

Chief Justice Willy Mutunga has invited senators to a meeting with judges to resolve the conflict between the Judiciary and Senate.

The CJ (above) sent the appeal in response to a letter by Senate Speaker Ekwe Ethuro regarding alleged judicial interference in the work of Parliament.

Dr Mutunga wants a truce between the two institutions to heal the rifts that have continued to widen over claims that the Judiciary was disregarding parliamentary decisions.

The meeting is meant to iron out issues that have poisoned the relationship between the two arms of Government especially with regard to the Embu Governor Martin Wambora affair in which a High Court ruling effectively put on hold a Senate decision to impeach him.

“I invite the Senate through your Hon Mr Speaker to have a workshop with the judges to discuss the issues you eloquently articulate in your letter,” the CJ said in his response to the Speaker.

Mr Ethuro in his letter dated September 4 accused the Judiciary of placing roadblocks in the implementation of their decisions.

 COURT PROCESS

“Three months after his impeachment by the Senate, Wambora illegally remains in office and continues to discharge the functions of the office of Governor of Embu County. Is it possible the governor is using the court process to prolong his stay in office after his impeachment through a constitutional process?

“We seek the intervention of your office to ensure that the Judiciary allows the Senate and Parliament as a whole to deliver on its constitutional mandate without unnecessary distractions and impediments through the issuance of adverse orders that contradict the letter and spirit of the Constitution,” the Speaker said in his letter.

It is not clear what the conference being suggested by the CJ will achieve, with the rifts between the two institutions having progressively widened since the promulgation of the Constitution in 2010.

National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi has more than once been reported to have dismissed High Court rulings.