Supreme Court judges brought shame to the judiciary, James Orengo
Supreme Court judges brought shame to the judiciary, says James Orengo on the presidential petition ruling.
Senior Counsel Orengo, who was in the team representing Azimio La Umoja One Kenya presidential candidate Raila Odinga in the petition, on Sunday called out the seven-judge bench led by Chief Justice Martha Koome, accusing them of making a ‘political’ judgment.
While speaking at a burial on Sunday, September 11, the governor, a close ally of Azimio leader Raila Odinga questioned the independence of the apex court in making the ruling.
“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 asserted that the Supreme Court’s unanimous decision, which ignored all nine of the arguments made by Azimio la Umoja’s legal team, was motivated by a hidden vendetta.
Orengo, a former senator and seasoned politician, also questioned the language used in announcing the decision, pointing out that certain comments were superfluous in such a situation.
“The person who wrote that judgment has done a great injustice to the rule of law. I respect the court, and I have practiced 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 affirmed that they would forge ahead and continue with the fight to ensure that justice is served.
“But what gives me peace is that we are going to fight and fight until justice is done… We are not afraid to continue fighting… This is a battle we must win.”
The apex court has been under fire from the Azimio la Umoja coalition for throwing out all nine issues and subsequently terming some of the evidence presented as hot air and giving the justices a wild goose chase.
The Supreme Court unanimously upheld president-elect, William Ruto’s victory in the August 9 poll.
Shortly after the ruling, Orengo came out to dismiss the verdict as “ideological”, noting that although he had accepted it, he did not agree with it.
“Courts sometimes make mistakes which should be corrected over time. Yes, we need to accept it as per the law of the land, but it is a very ideological definition,” Orengo said on Monday.
Also read,
DSTV to exclusively air William Ruto’s Inauguration, local private media stations denied
UDA MPs set to resign to join Ruto’s cabinet
Ruto’s confidant Ndindi Nyoro emerges as the largest individual shareholder in Kenya Power
Kenyans call Britain to return Koitalel Arap Samoei’s head after Queen’s death
Follow us
