The Commission on Administrative Justice (CAJ) has partnered with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to ensure that only honest persons compete for political seats in the country.
According to CAJ chair Florence Kajuju, the contenders for political seats would be vetted to guarantee that only persons of integrity run for office.
“We have the capacity and legal mandate to vet the candidates. “Anybody (aspirant) with a case reported to the CAJ will not get clearance,” she said this in Nyahururu during the official opening of the Commission’s fifth branch in the country.
The Commission popularly known as Ombudsman aims at vetting aspirants seeking political seats to ensure only people of integrity vie.
Kajuju further stated plans are in the works to open a branch in Garissa besides other offices in Kisumu, Mombasa, Eldoret, and Isiolo.
She noted that the decision to have an office in Laikipia is meant to decentralise the commission’s services to the lowest levels of governance.
She said the office will help members of the public seek and access justice as well as other government without being asked to part with a bribe.
The move was hailed by leaders from the area, saying the establishment of the Ombudsman offices will ease dispute resolutions without necessarily going directly to courts.
The Presiding Judge of Nyahururu, Justice Charles Kariuki, applauded the opening of the CAJ office in Nyahururu, saying it will relieve the courts of some of the difficulties that may be addressed through the alternative legal system, such as alternative conflict resolution procedures.
“People in this region (Laikipia and parts of Nyandarua and Nakuru counties) have been taking all matters to court. The Judge advised people to be making use of the CAJ services, saying courts are expensive and technical.
Kariuki said courts in Nyahururu are already overburdened by defilement, succession and murder cases and filing in court of simple matters that can be solved alternatively only increases the load.