Four senior Kenyan judges sent home

Four senior Kenyan judges are unfit to hold office, a board charged with vetting judicial officers declared Wednesday.

Among those sent home were the President of the Court of Appeal Riaga Omollo and Appellate judges Samuel Bosire, Emmanuel O’Kubasu and Joseph Nyamu.

The chairman of the judges and magistrate vetting board Sharad Rao said his team had cleared five other judges:

Justices Onyango Otieno, Erastus Githinji, Alnashir Visram, Philip Waki and PhilipTunoi.

Justice Omollo was accused of authoritarianism on the Bench and inconsistency. He also failed to show impartiality during the government of former president Moi.

Justice Bosire was accused of condoning torture of suspects during 1982 coup trials while Justice O'Kubasu faced accusations of accepting “gifts” from litigants.

On his part, Justice Nyamu was accused of lacking professionalism, candour and was stumbling block in the fight against corruption. In one instance, he issued a permanent stay against the prosecution of George Saitoti over the Goldenberg scandal.

The board started the vetting on February 23. The first judge to face the panel was Mr Justice Riaga Omollo.

The vetting was done in private. Those dissatisfied with the decision will have seven days to appeal to the board.

The purge will affect the