JSC nominates five for Kenya Supreme Court

Lawyer Njoki Ndung'u and a former anti-graft agency director Smokin Wanjala are among the five Kenyans nominated to sit on the Supreme Court

The Judicial Service Commission, which interviewed 25 applicants, also nominated Court of Appeal judge Philip Tunoi, Justices Jackton Ojwang and Mohammed Ibrahim.

Mr Wanjala is a former assistant director at the Kenya Anti Corruption Commission while Ms Ndungu has also served as a nominated MP.

The five will sit in a Court that will be charged with the interpretation of the Constitution and will have exclusive original jurisdiction to hear and determine disputes relating to the elections to the Office of the President.

The Supreme Court shall also hear and determine appeals from the Court of Appeal and any other court or tribunal as prescribed by national legislation.

It will comprise seven judges including the Chief Justice, who will serve as the President and the Deputy Chief Justice, who will serve as Vice President of the Court.

Already, the Judicial Service Commission has originated two nominees to the position of Chief Justice and his deputy. They are Dr Willy Mutunga and Ms Nancy Baraza respectively.

The names are due to be debated in Parliament after the Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee (CIOC) that vetted the nominees recommended their approval.

Already, Parliament has passed the Supreme Court Bill 2011 without amendments.

The Bill, which now awaits President Kibaki's assent seeks to operationalise the Supreme Court, the highest court in the land.