Kenyan lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi, also known as Grand Mulla, has come out to deny allegations by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua regarding the conduct of Justice Esther Maina.
This comes after the DP promised to file a petition against Justice Maina seeking her removal from office over a previous case in which his Sh202 million was declared proceeds of crime.
Speaking in Elgeyo Marakwet on Sunday, January 14, the DP said his move was prompted by the recent statement by Chief Justice Martha Koome, who urged members of the public who have problems with any of the judicial officers to follow the proper procedure instead of throwing mud against them in public without any evidence.
“On Thursday, this coming week at 2:15 pm, I will personally present a petition before Lady Chief Justice Martha Koome against Justice Esther Maina for her removal from the Judiciary for misconduct and corruption,” Gachagua said.
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While responding to him, Grand Mulla defended Justice Maina, saying she is one of the most principled judges in the country.
“I have strongly disagreed with her on the few occasions I appeared before her, and I told her in court that I found her too “pro-government.” Gachagua must, however, be appreciated in light of CJ Koome’s woeful inability to provide a road map to address corruption and incompetence in the judiciary. Koome must realise that burying her head in the sand won’t do it,” Ahamednasir said.
According to the DP, Justice Maina’s decision in July 2022 saw him losing his hard-earned money without being allowed to be heard.
“We made an application to cross-examine the investigator but she refused because she knew that there is no case, and we have the evidence on how things were done.”
However, in her ruling, Justice Maina said that her decision was made based on the admission that was made by Gachagua by then while serving as Mathira MP, where he said that he received the funds from government agencies but there was no evidence that he supplied any services or goods to the government.
“I have carefully considered the evidence on record including affidavits, annexures and submissions by all parties and I am satisfied that the funds are liable for forfeiture to the government,” Justice Maina said.
When President William Ruto said there were corrupt officers in the Judiciary, the outspoken constitutional lawyer was among the first to agree with him, saying there was a need to streamline the sector.
According to the President, the alleged corrupt officials were working closely with some individuals to block some of the government’s projects through court injunctions.
