nairobi kenya supreme court rule scrap last month presidential election shape new chief justice prove staunch defender judicial independence continent judge often see thumb executive power david maraga declaration aug. election void demand new poll 60 days shock many east african nation abroad announcement 4-2 vote court panel annul vote surprise know chief justice know case come man hear professor tom ojienda work maraga sit judicial service commission appoint chief justice tell reuters stickler rule president uhuru kenyatta expect swear second term friday supreme court rule say respect decision take swipe maraga colleagues call crook say judiciary need fix kenya u.s. ally fight islamists trade gateway east africa history dispute vote row 2007 vote lead ethnic bloodshed kill 1,200 people 2013 bid veteran opponent raila odinga secure election rerun reject supreme court time opposition change tack petition instead seek prove enough vote fake undermine vote almost impossible task two weeks court give judgment odinga supporters seek demonstrate online tally process lack integrity new approach may key factor secure decision back four panel six judge three weeks rule publish detail decision opposition also find chief justice man ready defend judicial power high office unswayed tendency kenya nation 40 ethnic group voters back fellow clans people within months appointment october maraga call kenyatta tell voters campaign stop maraga home region nyamira county april son job maraga respond appointment nothing president kenyatta kikuyu kenya big ethnic group still minority odinga luo another big group chief justice kisii small group kenya western highlands maraga also send clear message national leaders aug. judiciary political fray emerge culture public lynch judge judicial officer political class vile affront rule law must fiercely resist say statement maraga immediately issue response kenyatta late comment reuters could reach comment kenyans long complain get official business do require kitu kidogo swahili little something bribe frustration echo across africa kenya slowly rebuild confidence judiciary post-2007 vote violence new constitution 2010 demand reform judiciary public institutions maraga rise rank reform implement know colleagues strict adherence rule even young lawyer devout christian seventh day adventist tradition build practice rift valley city nakuru rather nairobi could secure high profile case would easily rub shoulder rich powerful colleagues say client give problem ask anything wrong refuse pay maraga would say let go ones come say professor ojienda say maraga integrity record strictly interpret election procedures past poll sway commission appoint last october ojienda say opposition high hop 2013 could overturn election result dash supreme court judge lead maraga predecessor willy mutunga reject petition time even odinga former prime minister fight lose three presidential race include one seem surprise listen friday rule court break broad grin pump fist air since 2013 several new judge appoint supreme court seven-strong panel friday decision back maraga two others appoint 2013. another panel 2013 also back rule two judge dissent one ill vote election event process begin end maraga say read rule four years early opposition arguments throw lodge late complaints widespread failure electronic vote systems fail convince judge time opposition case hinge election board failure post online tally form 40,883 poll station announce result form suppose sign party agent hard-copy backup electronic transmission thousands form miss board website announce result report independent court-appointed experts find many form lack official stamp signatures serial number enough convince majority maraga panel correct ethnicity chief justice paragraph 11 vote rule chief justice surprise kenyans colleagues