Forget CJ’s job, Mutahi Ngunyi tells Makau Mutua
Renowned professor of law Makau Mutua’s quest for the vacant Chief Justice’s job has been subjected to heavy criticism by political analyst Mutahi Ngunyi.
In a series of Tweets on Friday, Mr Ngunyi questioned Prof Mutua’s credentials to become Kenya’s next Chief Justice following the retirement of Dr Willy Mutunga last month.
In a thinly veiled attack on the New York-based lawyer’s values, Mr Ngunyi said Prof Mutua as a CJ would be “tragic political joke.”
Mutua wa Makau as CJ is a TRAGIC POLITICAL JOKE. He is NOT NEUTRAL. And his Afro-Pessimism is ACIDIC. We don’t need another ACTIVIST for CJ
— Mutahi Ngunyi (@MutahiNgunyi) July 6, 2016
If made CJ, Mutua Wa Makau could ‘REFUSE’ to swear Uhuru as President in 2017. He has told us that he DOES NOT RECOGNISE Uhuru as President
— Mutahi Ngunyi (@MutahiNgunyi) July 6, 2016
The controversial political analyst also questioned the professor’s academic qualifications, comparing him to a “Toyota that looks like a Mercedes Benz.”
Does Makau have PhD or an EQUIVALENT earned in 2 years? A Toyota looking like a Merc?If a PhD hit him on the head, he would not RECOGNISE it
— Mutahi Ngunyi (@MutahiNgunyi) July 6, 2016
And while Mr Ngunyi was viciously attacking Prof Mutua, top city lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi also poked fun at the professor’s 72-page CV.
Prof Makau i am told has sent his resume & writings…close to a tonne..need a cessna aircraft or a small ship…@KoinangeJeff @HonAdenDuale
— Ahmednasir Abdullahi (@ahmednasirlaw) July 4, 2016
The vacancies in the office of the Chief Justice and Deputy Chief Justice were declared vacant by Judicial Service Commission last month following the retirement of Dr Mutunga, Justice Kalpana Rawal and Justice Philip Tunoi.
Prof Mutua is among eight candidates, including former national Assembly speaker, Kenneth Marende, who have applied for the top job in the Judiciary.
The other applicants are Supreme Court Judge Dr Smokin Wanjala, Court of Appeal Judges David Maranga and Alnashir Vishram and High Court judges Msagah Mbogholi and Judge Richard Mwongo.