Protesters demand removal of judges over misconduct

Hundreds of Jubilee supporters staged huge demonstrations in the party’s strongholds in various parts of the country, demanding resignation of some Supreme Court judges over claims they colluded with the opposition to sway the presidential petition that saw President Uhuru Kenyatta’s August 8 win annulled by the court.

The well organised demonstrations were in some counties led by governors and other Jubilee leaders, ahead of Wednesday’s detailed judgment by the Supreme Court on their September 1 ruling, which declared the election of President Kenyatta null and void and ordered a repeat within 60 days.

The placard waving supporters were reacting to allegations in a petition filed by the executive director of Angaza Empowerment Network Derrick Malika Ngumu before the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) on Monday, accusing two judges of misconduct, claiming they were in contact with lawyers or agents acting for Nasa presidential candidate Raila Odinga.

READ: MP Wambugu to drop petition against Maraga

SACK LENAOLA
In Nairobi, the hundreds of protesters who were joined by Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro converged at the Supreme Court, chanting that their victory had been stolen and justice subverted by the court.

They blocked the Wabera Street-City Hall Way roundabout for the better part of the day, shouting and chanting anti-Supreme Court and -Chief Justice David Maraga slogans.

In Uasin Gishu County, demonstrators said they would stage daily demonstrations outside Eldoret High Court starting Wednesday until the JSC shows Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu and Justice Isaac Lenaola the door.

SWEARING-IN
Addressing the press outside Silver Line Hotel in Eldoret town, the supporters took issue with the two judges on what they termed as taking away President Kenyatta’s victory.

They now want President Kenyatta declared President and sworn in.

“All we are saying is that let President Kenyatta be sworn into office and complete his projects because we overwhelmingly voted for him, failure to which we are going to stage the mother of all demonstrations,” Mr Zachariah Kiplagat said.

In Nakuru County, transport on the Eldoret-Nakuru-Nairobi highway was paralysed for hours by the demonstrators, who demanded the immediate swearing in of President Uhuru Kenyatta.
DCJ MWILU
The protesters, who were led by Governor Lee Kinyanjui and Nakuru Town East MP David Gikaria, held protests on major streets in the town before blocking the highway at various points.

They demanded the immediate resignation of Justice Mwilu and Justice Lenaola, whom they accused of colluding with Nasa to deny President Kenyatta victory.

“We will block the highway until President Kenyatta is sworn in. The two judges must also step down as they were bribed by Nasa to rule in favour of the opposition,” Mr Gikaria said.

The governor added: “I am urging Nakuru people to protest peacefully as we demand the recognition of President Kenyatta’s resounding victory on August 8.”

VOTERS
In Nyandarua County, business was paralysed at Engineer market in Kinangop and Ol-Kalou and other areas as residents held similar protests.

Hundreds of youth lit bonfires and barricaded roads.

In Kiambu, Governor Ferdinand Waititu and all MCAs in the county led hundreds of residents in demonstrations.

Mr Waititu and his deputy James Nyoro led twig and placard-waving protesters in a march within Kiambu town, in a protest that kicked off at the county assembly, where the governor had just officially opened the second House.

“We woke up very early and voted for Uhuru Kenyatta, and we won with a convincing margin.

"Nasa went to court and his (President’s) victory was overturned, and out of respect for the Judiciary, we painfully respected the verdict and we agree to go back to the ballot.

"But it’s a different case when details emerge that Nasa influenced judges in order to get a favourable ruling. We will not stomach that, it’s too much,” Mr Waititu said.

MISCONDUCT
The governor said they were willing to sustain the protest to ensure the judges go home, and should the election fail to take place within 60 days as set by the court due to what he said was Nasa’s unreasonable demands, they will have Mr Kenyatta sworn in for a second term.

It was the same in Nyeri and Karatina towns, with protesters demanding the exit of the CJ and the two judges they said should also be prosecuted for gross misconduct.

“The electoral commission should cancel the rerun polls and swear in President Kenyatta for his second term because he won, but judges subverted our will. The votes should also be recounted to stamp the victory,” Mr Martin Wambugu, a protester, said.

WAMBUGU APPEAL

They praised Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu for filing a petition seeking the removal of the CJ, as they faulted the President for asking the MP to withdraw it.

In Karatina protesters barricaded the Karatina-Nairobi highway for the better part of the afternoon as Jubilee supporters took to the streets in anti-Maraga demonstrations

COLLUDE

Some of the demonstrators carried a mock casket with pictures of opposition leader Raila Odinga and Chief Justice David Maraga, chanting “Raila and Maraga must go”.

They blocked traffic on the highway at Jomoko, protesting what they referred to as an alleged plot by Nasa and a few judges in the Supreme Court to deny President Kenyatta victory through the nullification of his August 8 victory.

They stormed the highway, carrying banners and also burned tyres, demanding that the President be declared winner.

Reports by Brian Moseti, Dennis Lubanga, Steven Keter, Lamech Willy, Waikwa Maina, Linet Amuli, Peter Mburu, Eric Wainaina, Mary Wambui, Joseph Wangui and Stephen Munyiri