This archive report was first published on 4 November 2019.
On November 4, 2019, Chief Justice David Maraga expressed his concerns over the budget cuts directed at the Judiciary by the National Treasury.
During a press briefing, Maraga stated that service delivery at the corridors of justice will be greatly jeopardized if court operations are not adequately financed.
“Unless the budget cuts are reversed, we do not have money for fuel, we will not have mobile courts, we will not have the court of Appeal circuits, we will not be able to pay for wi-fi for the e-filing and e-payments, plans to automate corruption courts will halt,” he said.
Maraga also claimed that the executive has been treating the judicial arm of the state with contempt, citing instances where he was not accorded the respect due to his office in state functions.
“The CJ has no Mercedes car, he is not accorded the respect due to his office in state functions. The last Mashujaa Day, the CJ walked to the dias through a side walk and the MC did not acknowledge his arrival. The CJ is not accorded the respect of his office,” he said.
Maraga also alleged plans to oust him from office before expiry of his term, stating that some Cabinet secretaries were saying he would go before the year ends.
He called on Kenyans to be patient and allow the Judiciary and the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to follow the rule of law in dealing with corruption related cases.
