Ten lawyers apply for CJ, none for DPP jobs

Former Chief Justice Evan Gicheru (left) and Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko (right). Photos/FILE

More than 10 lawyers have applied for the position of Chief Justice ahead of Friday’s deadline.

A judiciary official who talked to the Nation said by Thursday morning more than 10 applications had been received.

“We expect the number to increase as more applicants try to beat the 21 days deadline,” he said.

The official said those who applied include local prominent lawyers and members of the Judiciary.

Unconfirmed reports indicated that judges from the Commonwealth had also applied in line with conditions allowing foreign judges to apply.

The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) that is mandated to initiate the process of finding a replacement for Mr Justice Evan Gicheru, is set to start scrutinising the applications.

Advertisements for CJ and the deputy were advertised in the Kenya Gazette as well as all local dailies on March 5.

The advertisement was prepared by a committee of the commission made up of Mr Justice Isaac Lenaola, magistrate Emily Ominde, lawyers Ahmednasir Abdullahi and Florence Mwangangi and High Court registrar Lydia Achode.

The commission has not give a time frame within which it will complete the exercise of sifting through the applications and forwarding the final names to the two principals.

Under the Constitution, a person applying for the job of chief judge should have 15 years’ experience as a superior court judge.

Alternatively, the candidate should have at least 15 years’ experience as a distinguished academic, judicial officer or legal practitioner.

And at Harambee House, no application has been received for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), the government has revealed.

Yet an email — [email protected] — that makes it easy for applicants who would be inconvenienced by travelling to drop the application forms has not received any.

“We really don’t know what is happening, but we encouraging Kenyans to apply,” Government Spokesperson Alfred Mutua told the Nation after delivering his weekly media briefing to the country on Thursday afternoon. “Maybe they will,” he added.

Kenya’s have a habit for applying for jobs but since the president gazetted the advertisement for the position on March 16, so far nobody seems interested with it.

The position of Director of Public Prosecutions is important in the ongoing Judicial Reforms.

It is also critical in the government’s effort to persuade the International Criminal Court (ICC) to try the post elections violence suspects in Kenya.

Former DPPs include the zealous Bernard Chunga who tried the Mwakenya suspects, Uniter Pamela Kidulla who got out of office without anyone noticing, Philip Murgor embarrassingly sacked from his post and the current one, Keriako Tobiko.

Recently, the position was one of those involved in a political circus and outcry after the President nominated lawyer Kioko Kilukumi for the seat. The others are the CJ, AG and Director of Budget.