CJ Maraga is reaping what he sowed in the Judiciary – Moses Kuria

juma chrispinus

July 30, 2018 1:02 PM

Maraga on Sunday said the Treasury has been avoiding his calls.

Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria who is also a member of Budgetary Committee in the National Assembly has claimed that the reduced funding to the Judiciary was a making of Chief Justice David Maraga’s judicial officers.

Speaking at Bishop Gatimu Ngandu Girls High School in Mathira, Nyeri County, Mr Kuria faulted a section of judicial officers who quashed three cases among them the Finance Bill 2018, adding that its dismissal was trivial.

“Justice Maraga is reaping what he sowed in the Judiciary. There are three cases where courts have suspended the implementation of excise duty introduced in Finance Bill, 2018 and collection of tax.

“You cannot stop collection of tax and complain [over] lack of money," said Mr Kuria as quoted by the Nation, sentiments which came on the heels of assurance from DP Ruto that the allocations would be reviewed.

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On Sunday evening, however, CJ Maraga faulted the infights between the Judiciary and Parliament, and in extension the Treasury, whom he accused of snubbing his calls to address the matter.

This prompted the CJ to hold a press conference last week where he announced dire consequences in implementing reforms in the judiciary.

“Here is where a CJ calls Treasury and no one is picking my calls. What else am I expected to do?” a visibly angered Maraga stated during an interview with NTV.

The Supreme Court boss also accused Treasury of actively sabotaging the Judiciary’s plan of getting autonomy by delaying the creation of the Judiciary Fund as well as the joint collaboration with the World Bank to improve the Judiciary’s capacity.

Mr Maraga hinted that the “revisit” talk, could be the reason behind the trimming of the Judiciary’s budget. The budget was cut from the Sh31 billion they had requested to Sh17.3 billion, with a paltry Sh50 million for development. He said over 70 projects were headed for a stall.

Meanwhile, Mr Kuria has vowed to champion the revision of the funding to the cash-stripped Judiciary, but on condition that the Executive would give direction to that effect.

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