CJ Mutunga: Supreme Court ruling 'not later than 5pm'

Chief Justice Willy Mutunga has said the Supreme Court will deliver its ruling "not later than 5pm".

"COMPATRIOTS. The Supreme Court will deliver its decision NOT LATER than 5pm today InshALLAH," said Dr Mutunga on Twitter Saturday.

The Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court Gladys Shollei said the Supreme Court have retreated to deliberate on the evidence after a one-week gruelling sessions in which parties presented their cases.

"Since the last sitting yesterday (Friday), the judges have retreated to deliberate on the evidence and write their judgment," she said during a news conference in Nairobi Saturday.

"The judges have had to work under extremely constrained timeline to meet the constitutional deadline of 14 days. We expect the judgment to be delivered this afternoon but not later than 5 pm,” said Ms Shollei.

The registrar thanked judicial officers, lawyers, and Kenyans for the cooperation throughout the hearings which at times went past 9 pm.

“The choice Kenyans and their leadership have made to arbitrate such a difficult dispute in our courts in an environment that upholds people’s civil liberties is a testament to our flourishing democracy, which we must continue to uphold and protect,” she said.

The Supreme Court will deliver a historic judgment that will either clear the way for the swearing in of Uhuru Kenyatta as Kenya’s fourth President, a run-off pitting Mr Kenyatta and Prime Minister Raila Odinga, or a fresh election.

Focus now shift to the six judges: DrMutunga, Justices Philip Tunoi, Jackton Ojwang, Mohammed Ibrahim, Smokin Wanjala and Njoki Ndung'u.

On Saturday, all roads leading to the Supreme Court were closed.

A contingent of armed GSU, administration and regular police closed the junctions of Wabera and Mama Ngina streets, City Hall Way, Parliament Road, and Taifa Road.

On Friday, Inspector-General of Police David Kimaiyo vowed a crackdown on illegal demonstrations ahead of the landmark ruling.

Mr Kimaiyo said crowds would not be allowed to mill around the Supreme Court.