Samburu leaders threaten to dump Jubilee over Lenaola petition

Supreme Court judges Philomena Mwilu (DCJ), David Maraga (Chief Justice), Mohamed Ibrahim, Smokin Wanjala and Isaac Lenaola during the pre-trial conference for the presidential election petition, August 26, 2017. /COLLINS KWEYU
Supreme Court judges Philomena Mwilu (DCJ), David Maraga (Chief Justice), Mohamed Ibrahim, Smokin Wanjala and Isaac Lenaola during the pre-trial conference for the presidential election petition, August 26, 2017. /COLLINS KWEYU

Samburu leaders want a petition against Justice Isaac Lenaola and DCJ Philomena Mwilu withdrawn.

Led by County Assembly Speaker Solomon Lempere, they condemned the attack on Supreme Court judges and termed them political.

"We are dismayed by unwarranted allegations against Lenaola," he said in a press statement on Thursday.

A petitioner wants Mwilu and Lenaola removed over gross misconduct.

Derrick Ngumu claims the two met with Opposition leaders as the petition to nullify the August 8 presidential election was going on.

Lenaola and Mwilu were among four judges who upheld NASA's petition and nullified President Uhuru Kenyatta's re-election.

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But Lempere said:

"As the Maa people, we will not sit and watch as innocent people are discredited to satisfy political egos."

He said though Samburu is a Jubilee stronghold, residents may decamp to NASA if the ruling party continues threatening Lenaola and the Supreme Court judges.

The Speaker said they are aware of demonstrations in Nairobi against the judges but they stand with Lenaola.

"We stand with Lenaola as the son of our soil and we will hold the government fully responsible should anything untoward happen to him or any member of his family," he added.

On Wednesday, Samburu University students protested against attacks on the Supreme Court.

Lewaraz Lemois defended the judge saying it is not wrong for anyone to meet a colleague or friend for leisure or chit chat.

Jubilee supporters held protests outside the Supreme Court on Tuesday and Wednesday.

On Wednesday, the judges read the full verdict of the presidential election with the majority decision receiving criticism from Jubilee leaders and supporters.

Shortly after his election was nullified, Uhuru called the judges "crooks".

He had said although he respected the decision, he did not agree with them.

There are three petitions seeking to remove judges who ruled in favour of NASA's petition.

Nyeri Town MP Wambugu Ngunjiri filed a petition before the JSC to remove Chief Justice David Maraga for gross misconduct.

Maraga said they are ready to pay the ultimate price as they defend the constitution and dared critics to abolish the judiciary through a referendum.

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