This archive report was first published on 22 July 2019.
February 21, 2019, marked a day of controversy for Chief Justice David Maraga, as a photo of him attending a Jubilee Party rally in Kisii surfaced, sparking heated debate over the role of the judiciary in politics.
Maraga was in Kisii to witness the commissioning of the upgraded Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital, alongside President Uhuru Kenyatta, his Deputy William Ruto, and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
However, it was not just his presence at the event that raised eyebrows, but also his behavior, as he was seen standing next to Ruto's vehicle, listening intently to the political rhetoric.
Siaya Senator James Orengo weighed in on the matter, stating, 'There is no day in the history of this country that a CJ attended a political event. In terms of decorum, it is a very bad manners.'
Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula also chimed in, saying, 'He is not the Chief Justice of Kisii. He is the Chief Justice of the Republic of Kenya. He should be seen only in judgments. Not standing on a roadside looking bamboozled.'
Lawyer Nelson Havi added, 'It is going to be difficult for CJ David Maraga to extricate himself from the public perception that he has been taken hostage by the Executive or has willingly joined it. A CJ cannot be doing this. Not under The Constitution of Kenya, 2010.'
