Judiciary: No Supreme Court judge has resigned

Supreme Court judges during the hearing of August 9 presidential petition in Nairobi [Collins Kweyu, Standard]

The Judiciary has refuted claims two of its Supreme Court judges have resigned.

In a tweet on Monday, September 12, the institution termed the reports as fake and misleading.

"No judge of Supreme Court has written a resignation letter as claimed in a section of media because there is no reason to do so. The court is working in harmony as a cohesive unit," read a statement by signed by Directorate of Public Affairs and Communication at Judiciary.

Unconfirmed reports shared on social media alleged Deputy Chief Justice (DCJ) Philomena Mwilu and Justice Smokin Wanjala had tendered their resignation to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) for undisclosed reasons.

The Judiciary described the reports as a wave of sponsored attacks on Supreme Court judges targeting at individual judges.

"There has been an unfortunate trend isolating individual judges and attributing the judgement to them. The court has seven judges who are highly respectful of each other as equals. A unanimous judgement is a collective decision made by the court and not by an individual," said the Judiciary.

This report comes amid Kenyans' wait for the seven Supreme Court judges to render their full judgement which will outline the basis on which the election of President-elect William Ruto was upheld.

Following the reading of the short version of the judgement, the judges have 21 days to deliver their full judgement.

"Kenyans are therefore requested to exercise patience as they await the full judgement which will shed light and provide clarity on the grounds and rationale of the court," the statement read in part.

Azimio la Umoja One-Kenya candidate Raila Odinga moved to court to challenge President-elect William Ruto's win in a highly contested August 9 presidential election.

Odinga averred fraud and opaqueness in the electoral process that declared Ruto president elect.

In their judgement on September 5, the Supreme Court judges unanimously ruled that Ruto was validly elected as president during the August 9, 2022.

The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate, Ruto, as per the IEBC, got 7.18 million votes (50.49 per cent) to be declared the winner of the August 9 polls.

Odinga, who ran on the Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya Coalition Party ticket, got 6.94 million (48.85 per cent) of the votes to emerge second in the contest.

Following the decision, Ruto will be sworn into office on September 13, 2022, which is the first Tuesday after the court delivers its verdict following a presidential petition.