Chief Justice Willy Mutunga leaves the Supreme Court after the final
hearing of the presidential election petition March 29, 2013.
Chief Justice Willy Mutunga has said that
Kenyans now trust their judicial system after the unanimous ruling on
the presidential petition.
Dr Mutunga said one of the biggest challenges he
faced was getting Kenyans to trust that the system could deliver
justice, rather than favouring rich individuals and big corporations.
During a meeting with Chief Judge of the State of
New York Jonathan Lippman on Monday, Dr Mutunga cited Raila Odinga's
acceptance of the ruling as a sign that the Kenyans now have faith in
their courts.
However, a week after the Supreme Court decision
to uphold the election of Uhuru Kenyatta as the fourth President of
Kenya, Mr Odinga criticised the decision, terming it as unpopular and
likening it to persecution of Jesus Christ.
“The decision is like the persecution of Jesus
Christ that occurred more than 2000 years ago. But like Jesus, I am
still alive,” he told a crowd in Kondele, Kisumu.
According to Dr Mutunga, the fact that there was
no repeat of violence after the ruling means the judicial system has
come of age.
“However, there is still work to be done in changing the rough edges of the judicial culture in Kenya.” Mutunga said.
He added that corruption that was widespread in
the courts now has no place during his tenure and reforms will be linked
to successful judicial systems in countries such as India, South Africa
and Colombia.
The meeting with Judge Lippman focused on exchange
of ideas about judicial transparency and accountability in seeking to
modernise Kenya's courts.
DAILY NATION
DAILY NATION
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