Havi’s objection letter on nominated candidates for CJ dismissed by LSK council
The Law Society of Kenya(LSK) council has dismissed the objection letter from the suspended LSK president, Nelson Havi, that objected nomination of Philip Murgor, Martha Koome and Kameri Mbote for the Chief Justice post.
In the letter to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), the council accused Havi of perpetuating his personal wars saying the memorandum had not been considered and/or approved by them.
“We would like to put it on record that according to the Society’s records the three Advocates; Mr. Philip Kipchirchir Murgor SC, Prof. Kameri Annie Gathiru Patricia, SC and Hon. Lady Justice Martha Koome Karambu, Judge of the Court of Appeal are members of the Law Society of Kenya. There are no complaints of professional misconduct and neither do they have any past or pending disciplinary cases against them before the Advocates Disciplinary Committee,” the council said yesterday.
In his letter to the JSC, Havi claimed that there is considerable doubt as to whether the three can serve as Chief Justice or judges of the Supreme Court and have recommended that the three should not be nominated for appointment.
“It is the legitimate expectation of LSK that the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) will consider this information……,” reads the letter to the JSC.
According Havi, Phillip Murgor was on January 15, 2019 appointed as a public prosecutor for a period of two years and he took up criminal cases which was clear case of conflict of interest.
Council members Ndinda Kinyili, Faith Odhiambo, Aluso Ingati, Beth Michoma, Carolyne Mutheu, Bernhard Ngetich and George Omwansa were adamant that the memorandum does not reflect the position of the LSK.
They explained that on February 25, 2021, they sent out a notice through email, for members to submit comments and feedback on the shortlisted candidates for the positions of Chief Justice and Judge of Supreme Court, directly to the Judicial Service Commission.
According to them, the Council has not received and considered any complaint(s) against any of the shortlisted candidates to the positions of Chief Justice and Judge of the Supreme Court.
