MPs’ turn to vet Judiciary nominees
Photo/FILE
The names of the three nominees Dr Willy Mutunga, Ms Nancy Barasa and Mr Keriako Tobiko (inset) were forwarded to Parliament on May 18.
Vetting of nominees for top positions in the Judiciary and prosecutions has started.
Parliament’s Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee (CIOC) is receiving reports on the nominees for Chief Justice, his deputy and Director of Public Prosecutions on Monday before grilling them on Tuesday.
The candidates are Dr Willy Mutunga, Ms Nancy Barasa and Mr Keriako Tobiko, and House Speaker Kenneth Marende has given the committee till Wednesday to table its recommendations.
Last week, Mr Marende asked Kenyans to submit any information on the three that is pertinent to their appointment. (READ: New House team to vet judicial nominees)
On Sunday, the civil society challenged Parliament to speed up the process.
“The Constitution has given us an excellent blue print to reform the Judiciary and enhance the rule of law,” National Civil Society Congress president Morris Odhiambo said.
“We demand that Parliament does its part by ensuring speedy hearings and their subsequent confirmation.
“The task of reforming the Judiciary must then commence henceforth without unnecessary delays,” he added.
The CIOC was given the mandate after partisan wrangles grounded the House Justice and Legal Affairs team.
The calls to speed up the process came just two days after an opinion poll indicated that 78 percent of Kenyans support the nominees. (READ: Poll: 78pc of Kenyans back CJ, deputy nominees)
Only outsiders
At the same time, interviews for the 26 candidates short-listed for the five vacancies in the Supreme Court start on Monday.
The Infotrak Harris survey also supported the Judicial Service Commission for assessing the candidates in public, with 53 per cent of the respondents saying only outsiders should be appointed to the highest court in the country.
The names of the three nominees were forwarded to Parliament on May 18.
On Thursday, Justice Minister Mutula Kilonzo and the CIOC chairman Abdikadir Mohammed asked the public to help expedite the process.
“We have a deadline of Wednesday, and we intend to keep that deadline. Anybody who has memoranda, positive or otherwise, should send it to the Clerk of the National Assembly.
“The Constitution requires those hearings to be conducted in public. We’re interested in institutions or organised groups that have specific interest in that area,” Mr Mohammed said.
