Activist moves to court to halt the ongoing CJ recruitment
An activist has moved to court seeking an order to stop the ongoing Judicial Service Commission(JSC) Kenya recruitment interviews for the new Chief Justice.
Through his lawyers, Danstan Omari and Shadrack Wambui, Memba Ocharo says the candidates who have been interviewed so far have admitted that they did not fill the wealth declaration form as required by law.
Adding that the vetting process has fallen way below the constitutional threshold.
“The five candidates interviewed so far, Prof. Patriciah Mbote, appellate Judge Martha Koome, Justice Saidi Chitembwe and justice David Njagi Marete have publicly admitted during their interviews that they did not fill wealth declaration forms as required by law,” he said.
Further, he also questioned why the interviews are being chaired by Justice Olive Mugenda in open defiance and insubordination of the constitution and the statutory dictate that demand JSC affairs should either be chaired by the Chief Justice or his deputy.
The file will be placed before a vacation judge Justice Weldon Korir for directions.
The search for the country’s new Chief Justice officially kicked off on Monday, Justice Chitembwe Said Juma was the first to face the interviewing panel.
The shortlisted candidates are expected to spend about four hours before the panel, as they argue their case as to why they believe they are the most suited, in an exercise that will be held at the Supreme Court Buildings and which will come to a close on Friday 23rd April 2021.
The search has today entered day five with Murgor Philip Kipchirchir, SC appearing before the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) panel.
Those who have already been interviewed are; Prof. Kameri Mbote Annie Patricia Gathiru, SC was interviewed on Tuesday, Justice Martha Koome was interviewed on Wednesday and Justice David Marete was interviewed yesterday.
The interview panel comprises of JSC commissioners – Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu (Supreme Court), Justice Mohamed Warsame (Court of Appeal), Justice David Majanja (High Court), Ms Olwande (Chief Magistrates Court), Macharia Njeru (Law Society of Kenya), Ms Ann Amadi (Judiciary Registrar), Mr Kihara Kariuki (Attorney General), Patrick Gichohi (Public Service Commission), Mr Felix Koskei (public representative) and Prof Olive Mugenda (public representative) – are presiding over the selection process.
