Vetting: Tobiko scrapes through
A parliamentary panel has approved three nominees for the key justice system offices of Chief Justice (CJ), the Deputy Chief Justice (DCJ) and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Parliament’s Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee (CIOC) unanimously approved the nominations of Dr Willy Mutunga and Ms Nancy Barasa but faltered when it came to Mr Tobiko.
“The first recommendation of the committee is that all names be approved for appointment,” said Committee chairman Abdikadir Mohammed at a brief press conference.
The second part of the recommendations needed some explaining and Mr Mohammed said 21 of the 23 MPs present at a morning meeting had voted for Dr Mutunga.
Ms Barasa’s nomination was approved by all of those present at the meeting, said Mr Mohammed. Four MPs in the 27-member team were reported to have been out of the country.
Tie
The committee was split down the middle when it came to voting on Mr Tobiko’s nomination; 11 voted for and 11 against him, with one MP choosing to abstain.
“In deliberations thereafter, because we have to give one recommendation to the House, our recommendation to the House is that the recommendation is a go,” said Mr Mohammed.
He said the report to the House would contain the key issues raised on each of the nominees, with particular emphasis on those raised against Mr Tobiko, which forced the committee to meet for an extra day.
“What gave me gratitude was that on all those issues, the vote was not on the basis of parties. There were people of different party persuasions who were for and against,” said Mr Mohammed.
