Is Africa coming of age? : Kenya's judge defies Kenyatta

President Kenyatta and Justice Maraga

Chief  Justice David Maraga

The highest ranking judge in Kenya has deplored the stringent attacks by President Kenyatta and his supporters after the Supreme Court overturned his election victory.
He warned that those inciting violence will be ''held personally responsible.''

Said Chief Justice David Maraga, 'If the president was ''tired'' of having a ''strong and independent'' judiciary, he was free to call a referendum to abolish it.
He said that until that was achieved, he and his colleagues were prepared to pay ''the ultimate price'' to safeguard the rule of law.

Justice Maraga added,
 ''The judiciary has not and will never seek to direct ( the executive and the legislature) about how to perform their functions.  We will not allow anybody to dictate to us how to discharge our mandate as given by the people of Kenya under the constitution.''