CJ Koome skips MPs’ induction after protests from Azimio
Chief Justice Martha Koome on Monday, September, 19, skipped MP's induction at the Safari Park in Nairobi.
Koome, who was expected to address the members of the National Assembly elected in the just concluded elections, was represented by Court of Appeal Judge Daniel Musinga.
She was to deliver a keynote speech on the interlinkages and interdependence between Parliament and the Judiciary.
Earlier, a section of lawmakers aligned to the Azimio la Umoja - One Kenya coalition threatened to walk out of the event, expressing dissatisfaction with the Supreme Court ruling on the presidential election petition.
The MPs accused a seven-judge bench led by Koome of bias in the judgement that upheld the election of Kenya Kwanza Alliance leader William Ruto as Kenya's fifth president.
While faulting Koome for the ruling, the MPs led by Nyando lawmaker Jared Okello claimed the President of the Supreme Court had fallen short of upholding the constitution of Kenya.
Okello took issue with the bench's wording of the judgement delivered on September 5 that the evidence filed by Azimio leader Raila Odinga was nothing but 'hot air'.
"We are dissatisfied that Parliament has invited the Chief Justice to come and make a presentation. The judgment that she rendered was full of insults and I do not think we deserved them.
"She does not interpret the law as it ought to be. We will respectfully walk away when she shows up to make that presentation," he stated.
Not ready to listen to Koome
Chiding the Judiciary, Funyula MP Wilberforce Oundo said Azimio lawmakers were not ready to listen to the CJ's presentation.
"We expect judges and people in the judiciary to be of good manner and temper so that whatever judgement they render is not full of innuendos. When she comes, or at whatever venue, has the time to redeem the image o the judiciary that respects the people of Kenya," he stated.
"There is nothing new that she can bring to the MPs because we have copies of the constitution and standing orders. Whatever she is bringing here today is full of hot air, an unproven hypothesis, red herring and all the negative attributes that she described our petition with."
The week-long induction workshop will end on Saturday, September 24, 2022.
Several speakers including Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) Governor Patrick Njoroge and Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Macharia Kamau made their presentations on Monday.
