I was in London, Supreme Court judge says

Supreme Court judge Justice Smokin Wanjala. He said he was in the United Kingdom when the Supreme Court delivered its detailed ruling on September 20, 2017. PHOTO | DENNIS ONSONGO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

Supreme Court judge Smokin Wanjala has responded to questions about his absence during the delivery of the detailed judgment on the presidential election petition.

In an interview just after he landed back to the country on Sunday night, Justice Wanjala said he had accompanied his daughter, who was being admitted to City University of London, in the United Kingdom to study Actuarial Science. The girl, Justice Wanjala had been a student at Rusinga Schools.

"This is a trip that was planned long before the general elections," said the judge who went on to mention that his ticket was issued Touch World Safaris.

Justice Wanjala was one of the four judges, who nullified the August 8 presidential election others being Chief Justice David Maraga, Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu and Justice Isaac Lenaola.

Justice Wanjala was however not present on September 20 when the court delivered the detailed judgement. In his introductory remarks CJ Maraga had said though Justice Wanjala was absent he had signed the majority judgment.

CJ Maraga's statement did not assuage a critical section of Kenyans, who have been demanding to know why Justice Wanjala could not postpone his travel for the all important national duty.

"Ours is a sick society where all sorts of idlers and busybodies create and feed rubbish to an ever gullible public," Justice Wanjala responded to the innuendoes.