Principals settle on Tobiko for DPP job

Kenyan President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga settled on chief public prosecutor Keriako Tobiko for the position of Director of Public Prosecutions Tuesday.

The principals also approved the nominees to the Chief Justice and Deputy Chief Justice posts Dr Willy Mutunga and Nancy Baraza respectively.

The decision was reached after consultations held at President Kibaki's Harambee House office.

"......following the recommendation of the interviewing panel, President Kibaki after consultations with the Prime Minister has nominated for approval by the National Assembly Keriako Tobiko for the post of Director of Public Prosecutions," read an emailed statement.

The Judicial Service Commission forwarded the names of Dr Mutunga and Ms Baraza after interviewing 18 candidates, who included Court of Appeal and High Court judges.

Mr Tobiko was among three nominees forwarded to the principals by a panel led by Cotu secretary-general Francis Atwoli. The others were lawyers Dorcas Oduor and Patrick Kiage.

The names will now head to Parliament and, if approved, will be sent back to the President for appointment.

Several MPs have criticised the JSC for only settling on one name instead of two to give the President and the PM options.

The MPs, among them Eldoret North’s William Ruto, have vowed to reject the names in Parliament.

However, Imenti Central MP Gitobu Imanyara said the JSC was wise to nominate a single candidate for each post bearing in mind “the earlier mistake by the President in the nomination".