This archive report was first published on 5 November 2019.
Chief Justice David Maraga's calm demeanor often belies his deep-seated anger, but when he spoke out against a secret plot to remove him from office, his words were laced with a sense of betrayal.
On November 4, 2019, Maraga held a televised address to the nation from the steps of the Supreme Court, where he alleged that two Cabinet Secretaries had been scheming to remove him from office before December 31, 2019.
“Some CSs [Cabinet Secretaries] are saying I will go before the year ends. Kumbe hii Kenya ina wenyewe [apparently Kenya has its owners]?” Judge Maraga said, flashing a wry smile intermittently.
Senior judges have since corroborated Maraga's claims, stating that the two Cabinet Secretaries were unhappy with his refusal to dance to their tune and remove certain judges they considered hostile to the government.
According to the judges, the two Cabinet Secretaries had instructed State House officials not to clear Maraga to meet the President and had also asked Immigration officers not to allow Maraga and some senior Judiciary officials to travel out of the country without permission from the Executive.
Maraga's allegations come as no surprise, given the frosty relationship between the Judiciary and the Executive. The Chief Justice has been at odds with the government over several issues, including the allocation of Mercedes cars to the two Speakers of Parliament, while he has been denied one.
Maraga has also cited previous reports that alleged a plot to withdraw his police traffic clearance and has complained about his presence being ignored during the October 20 Mashujaa Day celebrations.
Former LSK president Isaac Okero has stated that the writing has been on the wall since the President's attack on the courts in 2017, and that there have been deliberate efforts to undermine the Judiciary and the CJ.
City lawyer Nelson Havi has concurred with Okero, saying that CJ Maraga erred when he went to bed with the Executive expecting to appease it, and that he will be forced to resign and be replaced by state apologist judges.
