LSK tells board to fast-track fresh vetting of judge

• LSK chairman Eric Mutua claimed at the weekend that there were plans to clear certain individuals in the judiciary.
• He said there were a few individuals interested in scuttling the vetting because of the favours they get from the Judiciary.
• LSK would not allow the vetting board or the Judiciary to interfere with the vetting process, Mr Mutua said.

Mombasa

The Law Society of Kenya now wants the Judges and Magistrates Vetting Board to immediately convene a panel to re-interview Judge Mohamed Ibrahim after it rescinded its verdict declaring him unfit to serve in the judiciary.

LSK chairman Eric Mutua claimed at the weekend that there were plans to clear certain individuals in the judiciary.

“From our members, including Mombasa, it is not true all decisions pending before Justice Ibrahim have been delivered.

"In fact, there has been misrepresentation. We have confirmed those decisions have not been delivered,” he told a news conference in Mombasa.

He said there were a few individuals interested in scuttling the vetting because of the favours they get from the Judiciary.

LSK would not allow the vetting board or the Judiciary to interfere with the vetting process, Mr Mutua said.

“We will not allow the small minority, which is bent on trying to interfere with the process, to influence decisions.”

Mr Mutua said it was sad the board admitted there was bias against Judge Ibrahim. He warned that once the board’s credibility came into question, the entire exercise was likely to be affected.

He asked the board chaired by Mr Sharad Rao to exercise independence in its decisions.

Mombasa LSK branch chairman Eric Nyongesa said they would not challenge the decision to vet afresh Judge Ibrahim and Appeal court Judge Roselyn Nambuye.

He said they reached the decision after realising the Act was silent on the issue of fresh vetting by the board. “We are yet to determine whether the board has the mandate to act.”