Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua had declared war against High Court Judge Esther Maina after she ruled against his KSh 200 million case.
Gachagua who spoke during a church service at Iten Sports Ground on Sunday, January 14, said he has evidence linking Maina to corruption and that he will be seeking her removal from office.
“On Thursday, January 18, this coming week, at 2:15 pm I will personally present a petition before Lady Chief Justice Martha Koome against Justice Esther Maina for her removal from the judiciary for misconduct and corruption,” the DP stated.
However, on Thursday, January 18, the deputy President withdrew his threats to take legal action against the High Court judge.
Gachagua in a statement signed by the Head of Deputy Presidential Communication Service, Njeri Rugene said the move had been prompted by the need to allow for dialogue between the Executive and the Judiciary on the conduct of judicial officers.
“Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua notes the current national discourse on judicial transparency and application of Article 10 of the Constitution of Kenya on the conduct of Judges and other Judicial Officers,
“He welcomes the statement by Chief Justice Martha Koome inviting dialogue on the critical issue of accountability of the Judiciary, which H.E President William Ruto has embraced. In this regard, the deputy president will not proceed with the matter of the petition for now,” the statement read in part.
Gachagua’s U-turn comes days after Chief Justice Martha Koome asked President William Ruto to have a roundtable meeting on the differences between the Judiciary and the Executive.
Speaking during the commissioning of the Tinderet Integrated Technical and Trainers College in Nandi County on Tuesday, President Ruto expressed his readiness to spearhead the conversation, adding that the talks should involve all three arms of government.
