Chief Justice Mutunga said: "Faulkner's quote is my very painful reflection that teargassing peaceful demonstrations has not been our past since our independence."

He added via Twitter on Monday: "The past is never dead. The past is never dead. It's not even past."

In response, State House Public Communications director Munyori Buku said: "It is shocking that you concur with those who storm offices to eject others. How nice it would be to throw you out in that method."