Matsanga scoffs at Ex-CJ Mutunga over letter to President Kenyatta – KBC

Renowned lawyer David Matsanga has hit out at former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga over his criticism of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s decision to reject six judges recommended for promotion to superior courts.

Matsanga says Mutunga should be the last person to question the President given that, in his view, he mismanaged the Judiciary during his tenure as Chief Justice.

He even wonders why Mutunga chose to draft a letter to the Head of State, share it in public, when in fact he has unrestricted access to State House.

“It must be known to Kenyans that it was CJ Mutunga who destroyed Kenya Judiciary when he introduced primitive activism of too much NGO activities,” He said I a statement to newsrooms Wednesday.

Matsanga defended President Kenyatta on the issue saying he was justified to leave out the six judges for the reason that their suitability to serve had been put to question.

While contradicting Mutunga’s assertion that the President is obliqued to appoint all the judges as recommended by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) without hesitation, Matsanga said this is far from the truth.

“It is a shame that a whole former CJ does not know what the constitution of Kenya says about what the president of Kenya should have done. The truth is that under Article 166 2(C), the president is empowered to reject the judges on grounds of moral character, integrity and impartiality,” Matsanga stated

According to Matsanga who also chairs the Pan African Forum, non-other than the former CJ himself had called into question the conduct of some of the judges and judicial officers.

He said Mutunga had indicated that some judges’ bank accounts were full of money which are proceeds of corruption.

“He even implicated and suggested that accounts of their wives were used for such dubious deals,” Matsanga charged.

The outspoken lawyer says Mutunga is only interested in serving the interests of his ‘foreign masters’ and not the stability or well-being of the country.