Judges threatened as election protests escalate
KENYA: Kenyan police fired teargas yesterday at supporters of President Uhuru Kenyatta who were protesting outside the Supreme Court against the invalidation of his August 8 reelection, witnesses said.
The Supreme Court nullified the presidential election on September 1 and ordered the electoral body to hold a repeat vote within 60 days. The court, which issued a majority judgment, said there were irregularities in tallying results of the poll.
David Maraga, the chief justice and president of the Supreme Court, said threats against judicial staff had risen since the ruling.
‘‘Since the Supreme Court delivered judgment ... these threats have become more aggressive,’’ Maraga told a news conference at the Supreme Court, as hundreds of protesters wearing the bright red of Kenyatta’s Jubilee party gathered outside.
He cited the demonstrations outside the court as an example of the rising threats, and threatening messages sent on social media to individual judges and their staff.
‘‘Senior political leaders have also threatened the judiciary, promising ‘to cut it down to size’ and ‘teach us a lesson’,’’ Maraga said, adding that judges would not be intimidated by anyone and were ready to pay the ‘‘ultimate price’’ to protect the constitution and rule of law.
Maraga accused the inspector general of police of ‘‘repeatedly ignoring calls to act, exposing judicial officers, property and litigants to danger’’.
George Kinoti, the national police spokesman, denied the accusations, saying the police had provided bodyguards to judges and protection for their homes and the courts.
The protesters waved placards and shouted slogans against the judiciary and Maraga himself.
‘‘I have attended this protest to air my grievances after the Supreme Court annulled my candidate’s victory,’’ one of the protesters said.