Opposition leader Raila Odinga has fired back at former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga over the 2013 presidential petition after the ex-CJ recently criticized President Uhuru.
This came just days after Mutunga, who threw out the 2013 CORD presidential petition challenged Uhuru to resign if he cannot appoint the six judges recommended by the Judicial Service Commission.
The first CJ under the 2010 Constitution further asked the National Assembly to impeach the Head of State if he failed to respect the independence of the Judiciary.
Speaking during the burial of former Kibwezi Member of Parliament Kalembe Ndile, the ODM party leader wondered why Mutunga who he claimed had abated injustice was the one shouting loudest for judicial freedom when he apparently he failed while at the helm of the judiciary.
“In 2013 we went to court armed with strong evidence. The same Mutunga who was the Chief Justice closed out the evidence claiming we were late. That is hypocrisy of the highest order,” Raila said.
In 2013, Raila after unsuccessfully vying for the presidency on Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) lost a petition challenging the presidential results.
Mutunga in his ruling however maintained that Uhuru and Ruto were validly elected as president and deputy president stating that Odinga failed to convince the court to overturn the presidential results.
Kivumbi.co.ke last week reported that Mutunga in a hard-hitting letter addressed to the Head of State, said Uhuru’s contempt to JSC was beneath the dignity of the office of president.
“If any public officer does not like the powers the constitution donates to them or find executing those powers inconvenient, they have no business to occupy those offices. Resignation and voluntary retirement are readily available options,” Mutunga’s letter read in part.
However, according to Uhuru, the six judges he rejected had questionable CV.
