This archive report was first published on 16 June 2020.
On June 15, 2020, a high-stakes meeting took place at the Supreme Court in Nairobi between Chief Justice David Maraga and two high-ranking senators, Samuel Poghisio and Irungu Kang'ata. The senators, who were under instruction from President Uhuru Kenyatta, aimed to understand the root cause of Maraga's recent outburst and find a resolution to the ongoing impasse.
According to insiders, the meeting lasted close to two hours and centered around the issue of budget allocation for the Judiciary. Maraga had previously expressed concerns that the budget had hurt the Judiciary and contributed to a near-halt in the wheels of justice.
The senators reportedly promised to report back to President Kenyatta on the outcome of the meeting and proposed another meeting to iron out outstanding issues. Outside the Chief Justice's office, the three leaders downplayed the significance of the meeting, stating it was merely a courtesy call and a discussion on how the Senate and Judiciary could work together.
However, the meeting comes at a critical time, with the High Court set to mention a case filed by Adrian Kamotho seeking to bypass President Kenyatta in the appointment process of 41 judges. Kamotho's case has not yet received a response from the Judicial Service Commission or Justice Maraga.
