CJ turns down invite to launch Miguna’s book

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Dr. Willy Mutunga. File 

By NATION REPORTER
Posted  Monday, July 2  2012 at  21:23

Chief Justice Willy Mutunga has declined to be the chief guest at the launch of a controversial book about Miguna Miguna’s time in the coalition government.

Dr Mutunga said Mr Miguna announced that he would be the chief guest before confirmation.

The highly anticipated book is expected to give a ringside account of the politics of the coalition and the goings on in the Prime Minister’s office.

In a statement from his office, the CJ said he could not officiate at the launch because he had not read the book.

Neither seen nor read

“The Chief Justice believes that it would not be prudent for him to confirm that he will officiate at the launch of a book he has neither seen nor read. It is in this regard that he has declined Mr Miguna’s invitation,” said the statement.

Mr Miguna, the PM’s former adviser on coalition matters, is set to launch “Peeling Back the Mask: A Quest for Justice in Kenya” on July 14 at the Inter-Continental Hotel, Nairobi.

Responding to Dr Mutunga’s statement on Monday evening, Mr Miguna said: “He had accepted the invitation. It seems there was too much pressure. I understand and empathise with the CJ. The launch proceeds as planned.’’

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The book is published by London-based Gilgamesh Publishing. (READ: US extremist takes up critical book on Raila)

“In his explosive new memoirs, Peeling Back the Mask, Miguna Miguna explains why he rejected the Prime Minister’s subsequent offer of reinstatement and exposes Mr Odinga’s lacklustre leadersship,” Gilgamesh Publishing says.

On Monday, Dr Mutunga’s office said he had written to Mr Miguna turning down the invitation to attend the launch.

“Chief Justice Willy Mutunga has today written to Mr Miguna Miguna to inform him that he is unable to accept the invitation,” said the statement.

He explained that when he received the invitation, he asked for an advance copy of the book before he could decide to accept to be chief guest.

However, Mr Miguna went ahead to announce the CJ’s acceptance without confirmation from the CJ.