Tired? Call referendum to abolish judiciary, CJ Maraga dares critics

If leaders are tired of a strong and independent Judiciary, they can call a referendum and abolish it all together, CJ Justice David Maraga has said over threats to judges.

He told a press conference on Tuesday after chairing a JSC meeting that the "Judiciary is ready to pay the ultimate price to protect the rule of law."

The meeting followed two petitions challenging the credibility of the CJ himself, and Supreme Court judges Philomena Mwilu (Deputy Chief Justice) and Isaac Lenaola.

The CJ further condemned the Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet for ignoring their calls to provide security to all Government facilities.

"He has repeatedly ignored calls to act, exposing Judicial officers, property and litigants to danger," Maraga said.

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Maraga said they will never seek directions on how they perform their duties adding that anybody who wants to intimidate them should stop.

"These demos are bordered on violence and are intended to intimidate the judiciary," Maraga said.

He said the attacks and the protests shall never be allowed to happen at a time when the judiciary is beginning to hear the petitions.

"These attacks have become even more aggressive.. .the attacks are denigrating, demeaning, degrading and are meant to cow the institution..Such acts are savage," he said.

Maraga said the JSC's position is that those behind the attacks against the judiciary will be held personally liable for any injuries inflicted upon judges, and or their families.

"If anything happens to individual judges, staff and their families, those making inciting statements will be held responsible," he said.

He said the judiciary will not take directives from other arms of government on how it should execute its mandate.

"We will not allow anybody to dictate to us how we discharge our mandate ...we want to state that the rule of law must be allowed to take place at all times," he said.

"Judiciary as constituted shall not guarantee a particular outcome to any individual."

Source