Deputy president Rigathi Gachagua has retracted his plan of filing a petition for the removal of Judge Esther Main from her office.
The deputy president’s office issued a statement on Thursday saying that the move was brought about by the need for dialogue between the Executive and the Judiciary on the conduct of judicial officers.
Gachagua welcomed the statement by Chief Justice Martha Koome inviting dialogue on the current issue of accountability of the judiciary.
“Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua notes the current national discourse on judicial transparency and application of Article 10 of the Constitution of Kenya on the conduct of Judges and other Judicial Officers. He welcomes the statement by Chief Justice Martha Koome inviting dialogue on the critical issue of accountability of the Judiciary, which H.E President William Ruto has embraced.”
“In this regard, the Deputy President will not proceed with the matter of the petition, for now,” reads the statement issued by Njeri Rugene, Head of the Deputy presidential communication service.
Gachagua had vowed to ensure the removal of Justice Maina whom he accused of informally declaring his fortune proceeds of crime, a move he says was meant to tarnish his image and reputation.
“On Thursday, this coming week at 2.15 pm ,i will personally table a petition before chief Justice Martha Koome against Justice Esther Maina for her misconduct and corruption,”Rigathi said on Sunday while in Elgeyo Marakwet.
He further claimed that the high court judge denied him justice and the opportunity to be heard against all the rules of evidence and that she even refused his application to look into the investigator of his case. In 2022 the court ruled against Gachagua’s application to have his accounts frozen by the Assets recovery Authority
However, he got back his money when together with president William Ruto, they ascended to power following the 2022 general election.
On Monday this week, Chief Justice Martha Koome said the Judicial service commission had reached out to the President for a meeting to discuss the issues between the Executive and the Judiciary, following the persistent attacks on the judiciary by the executive.
Speaking during the commissioning of the Tinderet Integrated Technical and Trainers College in Nandi County the President welcomed positively the sentiments by the Chief justice showing his readiness to spearhead the conversation between the two arms of government.