By Eliud Mutwiri
In a statement dated 18 January 2024 seen by KUTV, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has
made an about turn and announced he will not file a petition against Justice Esther Maina.
The statement says that Gachagua welcomes the statement by Chief Justice Martha Koome
inviting dialogue on the critical issue of accountability of the Judiciary which President William
Ruto has embraced.
“In this regard, the Deputy President will not proceed with the matter of the petition, for now,” the
statement signed by Njeri Rugene, the head of the DP’s Communication Service, says.
On Sunday, Gachagua had said that he would lodge a petition against Justice Maina saying that
he was following Chief Justice Koome’s advice to file petitions against rogue judicial officers.
“On Thursday, this coming week at 2:15 pm, I will personally present a petition before Lady
Chief Justice Martha Koome against Justice Esther Maina for her removal from the Judiciary for
misconduct and corruption,” Gachagua said while speaking in Elgeyo Marakwet on 14 th January.
The Deputy President had accused Justice Maina of trying to injure his reputation by
unceremoniously declaring his fortunes as proceeds of crime.
Gachagua’s attacks on Justice Maina were informed by the fact that in 2022 the judge had ruled
against Gachagua’s application to have his accounts unfrozen by the Assets Recovery
Authority.
The court had ruled that he forfeits to the state Ksh202 million which had been declared as
proceeds of crime.
He however got back his money following their win in the 2022 Presidential election after his
frontrunner President William Ruto clenched power.
DP Gachagua’s move to report Justice Maina arose at a time when the Executive was at
loggerheads with the Judiciary.
President William Ruto on Tuesday 16 January 2024 agreed to hold talks with the Chief Justice, a
move which has faced harsh criticism from the opposition.
Through Wednesday’s statement, Gachagua who welcomed Ruto – Koome talks called on Kenyans to
support the dialogue process.
About the Writer
Eliud Mutwiri is a reporter and news anchor at KUTV. He has a bias for reporting political, business, and human-interest stories. Other areas of interest are environment, climate change, and climate action reporting.