Mutunga: Powerful forces holding back Judiciary reforms

Chief Justice Willy Mutunga on Wednesday admitted that the Judiciary has had to fight powerful business and political interests to undertake reforms and fight corruption.

Dr Mutunga said the powerful forces have been fighting back, making the transformation of the Judiciary and efforts to fight graft a daunting task.

“We have covered significant ground, but also faced many challenges. We have received support, but have also been victims of attacks from vested interests, some of who had privatised the Judiciary and its staff.

“We have fought corruption both in the Bench and the administrative wings of the institution, and continue to do so,” said the CJ at the launch of the Business Court Users Committee at the Serena Hotel in Nairobi.

PRIVATE SECTOR SUPPORT

Dr Mutunga called on the business community to support reforms, and particularly the fight against corruption on the Bench, where he said some sections of the private sector and their advocates are active participants.

He said for the campaign to succeed, the private sector must stand up to be counted, noting that Kenyans would want to know what it has done to its members who supply goods and services to government at inflated prices.

“The private sector must call on government agencies to account but this call will not be complete until it also calls out corrupt members within its ranks,” said Dr Mutunga.

Businessman Vimal Shah said the committees would help both the business community and the courts.