Poll: 78pc of Kenyans back CJ, deputy nominees

A majority of Kenyans have endorsed the candidature of nominees to the offices of Chief Justice and his deputy in a new opinion poll ahead of their vetting in Parliament next week.

According to the findings released Saturday by research firm Infotrak Harris 78 per cent of those polled endorsed the nomination of Dr Willy Mutunga and Nancy Baraza as Chief Justice and Deputy Chief Justice respectively.

The poll also shows that the 53 per cent of those polled prefer that legal practitioners serving outside the current judiciary take up jobs as Supreme Court judges. It also shows that nine in every ten Kenyans recommend that future interviews for public office holders be held in public.

Infotrak managing director Angela Ambitho said the poll was conducted intensively in all the provinces to understand Kenyans perception on the judicial nominees to the three positions.

“Whilst little controversy seems to shroud the nominee for the DPP, the hullabaloo surrounding the CJ and DCJ offices has certainly created anxiety within the country. Should parliament reject the nominees, then the selection process will have to be repeated and the already delayed implementation of the constitution would be subject to further delays,” said Ms Ambitho.

The poll conducted between May 23 and 27, 2011 comes at a time when Parliament prepares to vet nominees before they are debated in the House. Debate on the nominees to the top judicial position has been held hostage by political intrigues and caution over their endorsement from a section of the clergy.

Speaker Kenneth Marende has directed the Constitution Implementation Oversight Committee to take over the vetting process, following a stalemate between ODM and PNU in the formation of an Ad hoc committee. CIOC report is expected to table the report on Wednesday.

According to the poll, nearly nine in ten (89 per cent) of Kenyans are satisfied that Dr Mutunga and Ms Baraza will reform the judiciary if given a chance.

Thirty eight per cent of Kenyans who think that given a chance the two candidates will reform the Judiciary said it is because they are qualified and competent, 35 per cent think so because they have a good track record while 17 per cent say said it is because they are incorruptible.

Those Kenyans who were not satisfied with the nominations stated controversy of the two personalities as the key concern. Others also mentioned their lack of experience in the Judiciary and the fact they may be subject to influence and corruption in the future.

Among the reasons given by the respondents who think that the nominations were fair included that the nominations were conducted in a transparent manner and because of the aspects that were covered during their interviews.

Some 21 per cent of the respondents feel that the nominations were not fair because there was corruption, 17 per cent point to the debate that has surrounded the nominations while 16 per cent feel that the number of those nominated should have been higher.

Elimination of corruption is the reason why most Kenyans are of the opinion that all future nominations for public office holders should be done in view of the public. Other reasons include for the satisfaction and elimination of doubt, for fairness and transparency and so as to get the “right people to serve the public”.

Majority of those who are opposed to public interviews says that they get intimidating and scrutinizing. Among other reasons given include that some interviewers get to personal and that it is a waste of time and resources.