Did DCJ Mwilu, Smokin Wanjala Quit Supreme Court?

The Judiciary has dismissed a report which claimed that Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu and Justice Smokin Wanjala had resigned as Supreme Court judges, days after the verdict.

On Sunday, September 11, rumours went wild that the two judges who unanimously upheld the election of William Ruto as president had tendered their resignations to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), adding that the reasons for their decision were not disclosed.

The Judiciary however explained that the information that was circulated across social media platforms was false.

The seven judges at the Supreme Court on September 2, 2022. /COURTESY

The verdict which was also ruled by the two judges has been drawing debate between two political factions; one praising the verdict and the other castigating it.

Orengo's Harsh Remarks On Supreme Court Verdict

Siaya Governor, James Orengo, became the latest to hit out at the seven judges, specifically focusing on Chief Justice Martha Koome, as he termed the verdict as a shame to the Judiciary.

While speaking at a burial on Sunday, September 11, the governor, who is a close ally of Raila Odinga, claimed that the seven-judge bench had made a political judgement at a time when the country needed an objective verdict.

"Chief Justice Koome you have brought shame to the Judiciary by rendering a judgment that in the eyes of the ordinary people who fought for you to make sure a Chief Justice can have independence. You have brought shame to the people of the Republic of Kenya!” he claimed. 

The Siaya governor further accused the apex court of having sinister motives in the ruling which threw away all nine issues that were raised by the Azimio la Umoja legal team. He also took fault with the nature of the words used during the ruling.

"The person who wrote that judgment has done a great injustice to the rule of law. I respect the court, and I have practised law for a very long time. A lot of the judges in the Supreme Court are my juniors."

“Judges speak in words that are measured so that even the loser in a court of law feels like justice has been done. Not even a baraza presided by a Chief would use the kind of language that was used at the Supreme Court. Shame to you judges!” he noted.

Orengo however assured that they would unite and continue with the fight to ensure that justice is served.

The apex court has been subject to criticism from the Azimio coalition for terming the evidence presented to the court as hot air and giving the justices a wild goose chase. 

Ruto is set to take the instruments of power on Tuesday, September 13 at the Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi.