Jubilee secretary general Raphael Tuju has faulted his boss President Uhuru Kenyatta for "losing his temper" after the Supreme Court ruling.
Last Friday, Chief Justice David Maraga announced the court's verdict that the declaration of
Uhuru Kenyatta's presidential election
victory was "invalid, null and void".
Opposition leader Raila Odinga
vied for the second time against Uhuru.
Details of the ruling will be released by September 22
and a repeat election will be conducted on October 17 as ordered by the Supreme Court.
In response on Saturday, Uhuru said Kenya has a problem with its Judiciary,
referred to the judges as 'wakora' (crooks). He added: "Who even elected you?...We have a problem and we must fix it."
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But in an interview on CItizen TV on Wednesday, Tuju said the Jubilee Party leader should not lose his cool but remain presidential.
"In some comments...the style and words he used...we have representatives and they disagree with the words he used.
He
is
their President and
they expect him to be calm and sober and not act that way," he said.
"They expect him to have certain standards not lose his temper."
He added they have told the President criticism from Kenyans is welcome.
Tuju noted the Judiciary has
rogue actors and added Maraga should be able to take any kind of criticism that comes his way.
"The Chief Justice is a public officer and as public officer
you need thick skin to take criticism and have people differ with you," he said.
"Whatever words were used on Maraga, he was referred to as the Chief Justice."
'WHO DOES RAILA THINK HE IS'
The SG further
asked why there was outrage when Uhuru criticised the Judiciary yet when Raila did so nothing happened.
Before he filed his presidential election petition at the Supreme Court, Raila said they were giving the top organ a second chance following the ruling after the 2013 national election.
The ODM leader said the Judiciary should use the chance to redeem itself "or, like in 2013, it can compound the problems we face as a country."
Tuju said:
"There should be outrage when Raila threatens the court. Our side of the political divide has kept calm. When the ruling was made there was no burning of tyres but the Opposition is the opposite."
But he noted it is good for Uhuru to be held to higher standards than Raila and that they have moved on from the Supreme Court ruling even though it was against them.
"We did not welcome the Supreme Court ruling but we have moved on…it is very important that Kenya moves on."
Tuju further said NASA should not be hypocritical by rejecting the October 17
election date.
Raila dismissed IEBC's decision to hold fresh polls saying it is a date set by Jubilee.
This followed Education CS Fred Matiangi's recommendation that the election
be held a week before this date to protect KCSE and KCPE candidates.
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The Jubilee boss said: "When Raila says there will be no election…who does he think he is? The thing is…this grandstanding that Raila and NASA [display]...they can say anything and throw tantrums like teenagers."
"If NASA isn’t satisfied with the date, they can talk to IEBC and if IEBC changes it because NASA said so, it’s up to them...he
should go to court and say this should be clarified. This is outrageous."
Tuju defended Matiang'i saying he requested the date based on a request by the Kenya
National
Examinations Council.
The Opposition chief wants KCPE and KCSE exams pushed by a week and the poll held either on October 24 or 31.
After the Supreme Court determination, a
grinning Raila pumped his fist in the air. Outside, shares plummeted on the Nairobi bourse amid the uncertainty, while
Uhuru
supporters grumbled.
But the mood on the streets of Nairobi was jubilant rather than angry.
Judges said they found no misconduct by
Uhuru
but said the election board "failed, neglected or refused to conduct the presidential election in a manner consistent with the dictates of the constitution."