The Chief Justice of Kenya, David Maraga has issued a warning to the Kenyan government for disregarding several court orders issued out in this month.
Last week a High Court ruled ordering the government to suspend the shutdown of three TV stations but the government refused to comply.
The three stations which are Kenya’s biggest television stations were taken off-air last week for planning to broadcast the opposition leader Raila Odinga’s “inauguration” in Nairobi as the “people’s president”.
NTV, KTN and Citizen TV went off-air shortly before the actual event took place and the government decided to extend the shutdown further ignoring a court ruling asking for a suspension of the shut-down.
The stations were warned not to cover the ceremony stating that the inauguration of Raila Odinga as “the people’s president” was treasonable.
They were however back on air days after this court order, something that appears to have angered the country’s chief justice to issue out a statement saying “The recent disregard of court orders is an act that is not only inimical to the rule of law but is also completely at odds with Kenya’s constitutional outlook”.
Maraga in the statement issued on Wednesday further said “compliance with court orders is not an option for any individual or institution, neither is it a favour to be doled out to the judiciary.”
Kenya’s Chief Justice @dkmaraga speaks out against the disregard for the judiciary. @UKenyatta @estherarmah @ayittey @theafricafeeds pic.twitter.com/YjWEbuv39U
— Isaac Kaledzi (@IsaacKaledzi) February 7, 2018
On Tuesday another court ordered the government to release a Kenyan politician Miguna Miguna who was standing trial for administering an oath to opposition leader, Raila Odinga who has proclaimed himself the “people’s president”.
The politician was moments later deported from Kenya to Canada, an action that has also attracted criticisms.
Source: Africafeeds.com
