Mutunga interdicts four top Judiciary officials

Chief Justice Willy Mutunga addresses the media at his office at the Supreme Court on March 2, 2014. Four Judiciary officials have been interdicted in a corruption purge, with instructions that they should hand over to designated officers and clear with the Chief Registrar. PHOTO/ANN KAMONI

Four Judiciary officials have been interdicted in a corruption purge, with instructions that they should hand over to designated officers and clear with the Chief Registrar.

The affected officials are Deputy Chief Registrar of the Judiciary Mr Kakai Kissinger, the Human Resource and Administration director Mr Dismas Opondo, Supply Chain Management director Mr Martin Okwata and the director in charge of Information Communication Technology, Mr Tom Atak.

In ordering the interdiction, Chief Justice Dr Willy Mutunga said it was to avoid conflict of interest as investigations into procurement, court construction, recruitment and promotion among other issues continue.

“In order to preclude the perception of conflicts of interest in the course of these inquiries, the Chief Justice – being satisfied that the public interest requires that an officer should cease forthwith to exercise the powers and functions of their office – has interdicted four officials as provided for under the Third Schedule, Section 16, of the Judicial Service Act,” reads a statement dated April 3 and signed by Chief Registrar Ms Ann Amadi.

Following the sacking of former Chief Registrar Gladys Shollei last year, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), headed by the CJ began investigations into the “legality, regularity, prudence and probity of actions undertaken by judicial staff at various levels of responsibility.”

The Auditor General Mr Edward Ouko together with the National Treasury also instituted an audit of various issues raised, with the participation of the Public Procurement Oversight Authority (PPOA).

EACC INVESTIGATIONS

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) also launched parallel investigations into the matters being investigated.

“Recently, the Parliament also raised questions on the cost of court constructions that call for an internal review of the Judiciary’s operations to clarify roles and responsibilities while performing a full organisational review,” read the statement by Ms Amadi.

She said preliminary inquiries by the JSC have surfaced important points of action to ensure greater accountability of all judicial staff and officers while closing any institutional and management gaps.

The JSC’s examination of issues had identified four areas that require further investigations and action.

They include recruitment, promotion and remuneration of judicial staff, court construction, acquisition and leasing of physical infrastructure, acquisition and deployment of ICT and procedures in the procurement of goods and services.

“The issues in these four areas raise important questions on the competence of officials but also point to steps that must be taken to safeguard public resources,” said the Chief Registrar.

Ms Amadi said JSC's action to suspend the officials are intended to protect public resources while strengthening its capacity to deliver value for money for Kenyans and to run judiciary affairs.