Jubilee Asks Chief Justice David Maraga to Drop Justice George Odunga from All Election-Related Cases

Jubilee Party has written to Chief Justice David Maraga demanding the removal of High Court Judge Justice George Odunga from the panel of Judges who will be hearing elections petitions emanating from the August 8th elections, saying that he has been ruling in favor of opposition leaders in past cases.

In an official letter to the President of the Supreme Court, Jubilee Party secretary-general Raphael Tuju said Justice Odunga should recuse himself as his conduct is probed by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).

“The issue of Justice Odunga, his decisions, his closeness to (Siaya Senator James) Orengo should be tabled before the JSC, where we shall adduce irrefutable evidence. Prior thereto, please replace the judge with another judge or a Bench of judges that is not perceived to be hostage to any political party,” Tuju said in the letter dated August 1st.

“It has come to our attention that the judge has offered to be the only judge on duty from July 30 up to August 11 in both the Judicial Review Division (JRD) as well as the Constitutional Division. These are the two divisions that will handle all disputes leading to the General Election and immediately thereafter,” Tuju said in his letter.

This is the second time the ruling party has questioned the conduct of Justice Odunga in relation to his closeness to some opposition leaders, particularly Siaya Senator James Orengo.

“Justice Odunga is related to Senator James Orengo through marriage. Sarah Odunga is a niece of James Orengo. Indeed, her younger sibling is known as James Orengo Junior,” Tuju said at a press conference at the Jubilee headquarters.

However, Orengo dismissed the allegations as baseless, saying he had practiced law and is now a senior counsel, with the highest form of integrity.

“If it is looking at my relatives in high places, it should not be Justice Odunga. It should be President Kenyatta, whose sister was married to my cousin, Dr Owino, a dentist,” said Orengo.