LSK throws support behind judicial nominees

Kenyan lawyers have thrown their weight behind the three nominees to the Judiciary and State Law Office.

While endorsing the nominees, the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) also asked Parliament to end the sideshows that have paralysed the Departmental Committee on Justice and legal affairs.

Parliament has no option but to approve the names, LSK chairman Kenneth Akide told a news conference on Monday.

“LSK wishes to express its unreserved confidence, support and endorsement of the nomination of Dr Willy Mutunga and Nancy Baraza for Chief Justice and Deputy Chief Justice respectively and Keriako Tobiko for Director of Public Prosecution,” said Akide.

“All the nominees are highly respected members of the LSK … eminently qualified and have the requisite academic and professional qualifications and experience for the respective positions for which they have been nominated,” Mr Akide said.

President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga nominated Dr Willy Mutunga and Nancy Baraza for Chief Justice and Deputy Chief Justice respectively Keriako Tobiko as Director of Public Prosecution and has since submitted the names to parliament for consideration by President Kibaki.

The process leading to their nomination, the lawyers said, was competitive, transparent and above board.

Mr Akide explained that LSK also gathered views from its membership on the suitability of the short-listed candidates which returned favourable support for the three.

The names of the nominees will be tabled in Parliament on Wednesday for debate and possible approval on Thursday according to last week’s directive by House Speaker Kenneth Marende.

LSK also dismissed critics of the nominees saying the allegations used to discredit them are non-factual.

“Furthermore, it is self-evident that some of the allegations levelled against some of the candidates may have been actuated by personal, sectoral, religious or political considerations,” he said.