Hunt for team to vet Kenya judges begins

Recruitment of a team to vet judges and magistrates has started.

The selection committee on Tuesday began interviews for post of chairperson of the vetting board.

Former commissioner of the defunct Electoral Commission of Kenya Gabriel Mukele, lawyers Bernard Mbai and Ojwang’ Agina were the first applicants to be assessed.

“We are looking for candidates with strong academic background and record of impartiality,” said panellist Caroli Omondi, who is also Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s administration secretary.

Out of 11 candidates short-listed, Mr Omondi said only three names would be forwarded to President Kibaki and Mr Odinga to pick one person.

The principals will also select five other members out of a possible 26 shortlisted applicants.

Interview panel

Acting Public Service Commission chairperson Rosemary Nyanjom is heading the interview panel consisting of Prof Kulundu Bitonye representing the Justice ministry and others from Law Society of Kenya.

Mr Omondi, who was speaking on behalf of the interview panel, said that six of the 18 names to be forwarded to the principals must be lawyers and should be of either gender.

The Sixth Schedule of the Constitution provides for the enactment of Vetting of Judges and Magistrates Act to determine their suitability to continue to serving.

The vetting of judges of the Court of Appeal and the High Court will be concluded in three months while that of magistrates will be completed in six months.

Vetting, once commenced, shall not exceed a period of one year. But Parliament may, on the request of the board, extend the period for not more than one year.

The vetting board shall stand dissolved within 30 days of the execution of its mandate upon which the vetting Act shall lapse.