The Director of Public Prosecution Noordin Haji has denied claims that he ordered the arrest of the two High Court judges by the Directorate of Criminal Investigation(DCI).
The two judges justices Said Chitembwe and Aggrey Muchelule were arrested by DCI yesterday afternoon.
According to Haji, he was not aware of the reason leading to their arrests and questioning, and that his office had not received any files concerning them.
“Contrary to reports by one Eric Theuri, purportedly speaking for LSK blaming the DPP for the arrest, the DPP is not aware of circumstances which led to arrest or questioning of 2 Judges neither has his office received any investigation files concerning them. In the event the file(s) is presented to the ODPP for advice, the DPP will direct as appropriate,” he stated.
Detectives stormed and searched both offices before taking them to the DCI headquarters for questioning.
According to Omari, the detectives were searching for money but did not find a single penny.
The two judges were released after 6pm though the DCI did not reveal their crimes.
Speaking to the press at the DCI offices, lawyer Danstan Omari accused the DCI of attempting to intimidate the Judiciary.
“We have no doubts in our minds that these are well calculated but poorly executed attempts to intimidate the judges and we are not going to take this lightly,” said Law Society of Kenya Nairobi chairperson Erick Theuri.
In a statement LSK condemned the move, terming it efforts by the executive to claw back the gains made on the independence of the judiciary.
The society said the arrest was intended to demoralise the judges and also undermine the judiciary.
“It should not be lost to Kenyans that Justice Muchelule is one of the six judges who have not been sworn-in office,” Havi said.
The society demanded an apology from the executive or the resignation of DCI George Kinoti, adding that a similar occurrence should not happen.
Muchelule was among six judges President Uhuru Kenyatta did not promote when he gazetted the names of judges in June.