Former CJ David Maraga reacts to Dr Willy Mutunga letter to President Uhuru Kenyatta

Chief Justice Emeritus David Maraga on Wednesday gave his considered opinion on a letter written by his predecessor to President Uhuru Kenyatta.

In a strongly-worded letter to the Head of State, Kenya's 13th Chief Justice, Dr Willy Mutunga, condemned the President's rejection of six judicial nominees for the positions of Court of Appeal and High Court judges.

In an interview with KTN, former CJ Maraga confirmed that he had studied the open letter written by Dr Mutunga on Monday.

"I agreed with every word in that statement. I read it carefully and I agree with every word in that statement. When a situation gets so bad, it requires that people get brave and frank enough to state what the position is, because when you keep quiet, if Justice Mutunga had kept quiet, if we keep quiet yet we see the country sliding into anarchy can you come back and claim you wish you had said something? That's being hypocritical and dishonest! It's a disservice to yourself and to the country," he asserted.

When asked to comment on the criticism that Dr Mutunga had allowed a similar occurrence during his tenure and therefore had little moral ground to question the President, Maraga defended the former CJ insisting that the letter was appropriate.

"Maybe because it has been repeated gave Dr Mutunga even more reason to come out as he did.

"I don't want to purport to explain Dr Mutunga's letter, it is very clear but for the sake of your viewers, let me put it in Swahili, 'Yale Justice Mutunga aliandika na yale ambayo yametendeka ni kusema tu Rais hana mamlaka ya kusema ataajiri huyu na asiajiri yule. Hayo mamlaka yamepewa watu wengine. Tukimruhusu Rais aendelee hivi, italeta shida Kenya hii'," Maraga stated.