By Barrack Muluka | Friday, Sep 15th 2017 at 19:14
The religious community is loudly silent, even as the ruling political class pounds the justice system in Kenya. In the wake of presidential election result on August 11, spiritual leaders were sonorously everywhere. They asked those who did not accept the result “to go to court.” After the court said its word, President Uhuru Kenyatta went on the rampage. His mission is, decidedly, to bring down Chief Justice, David Maraga, and the Judiciary. He has not minced his words about this.
President Kenyatta has accused the Chief Justice of “stealing his election.” He has angrily told the world that the Supreme Court has no mandate “to overturn the will of the people, expressed at an election.” It is instructive that the President advised Raila Odinga and the National Super Alliance (NASA) to go to court, if they were not satisfied that he was validly elected.
Equally instructive was the cheerfulness with which the President accepted validation of his election by the same court in 2013. He then went on to state that court decisions should not be accepted and respected only when they favour us.
They must be respected all the time. Yet when the court invalidated 2017 presidential election, he began crying foul, angrily and disrespectfully. In civilised societies, even presidents respect other people and institutions. It is the surest way to secure their public ethos.
Our president has uttered shocking things about the Chief Justice and the Judiciary. He has insulted them and threatened them. He has promised to “teach them a lesson after the people reaffirm” his election. We have seen images of an incontinent President moving from pillar to post, hurling invective against the Judiciary and spreading fear. Yet there is nobody to defend the court system and the country against our all-powerful president. It is a crying shame that religious leaders simply look on.
Dangerous crossroads
The religious community is loudly silent, even as the ruling political class pounds the justice system in Kenya. In the wake of presidential election result on August 11, spiritual leaders were sonorously everywhere. They asked those who did not accept the result “to go to court.” After the court said its word, President Uhuru Kenyatta went on the rampage. His mission is, decidedly, to bring down Chief Justice, David Maraga, and the Judiciary. He has not minced his words about this.
President Kenyatta has accused the Chief Justice of “stealing his election.” He has angrily told the world that the Supreme Court has no mandate “to overturn the will of the people, expressed at an election.” It is instructive that the President advised Raila Odinga and the National Super Alliance (NASA) to go to court, if they were not satisfied that he was validly elected.
Equally instructive was the cheerfulness with which the President accepted validation of his election by the same court in 2013. He then went on to state that court decisions should not be accepted and respected only when they favour us.
They must be respected all the time. Yet when the court invalidated 2017 presidential election, he began crying foul, angrily and disrespectfully. In civilised societies, even presidents respect other people and institutions. It is the surest way to secure their public ethos.
Our president has uttered shocking things about the Chief Justice and the Judiciary. He has insulted them and threatened them. He has promised to “teach them a lesson after the people reaffirm” his election. We have seen images of an incontinent President moving from pillar to post, hurling invective against the Judiciary and spreading fear. Yet there is nobody to defend the court system and the country against our all-powerful president. It is a crying shame that religious leaders simply look on.
Dangerous crossroads
