Body to probe top Judiciary officers

Chief Justice David Maraga during a past event. The Judiciary and the National Police Service will form an investigation wing to handle corruption complaints against judges and magistrates. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Chief Justice David Maraga on Tuesday noted that corruption must be stamped out from the higher offices in the country

  • Several magistrates and support staff in the Judiciary have been dismissed over integrity issues, added Justice Maraga.

  • Last year, 25 corruption related cases were finalised with 18 ending with convictions.  

The Judiciary and the National Police Service will form an investigation wing to handle corruption complaints against judges and magistrates.

Chief Justice David Maraga on Tuesday noted that corruption must be stamped out from the higher offices in the country and the Judiciary would not be left behind.

Justice Maraga said once formed, the investigating arm would work under the Judiciary ombudsman.

REFORM

“The Judiciary has come up with some reform initiatives to fight this vice. Among specific measures include strengthening institutional complaints handling mechanism through the office of the Judiciary Ombudsman. The office receives complaints and forwards those that merit action to the Judicial Service Commission,” Justice Maraga told a workshop organised by Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) at Mt Kenya Safari Club.

He noted that pursuant to the reports of the office of the Ombudsman, a judge was removed from office in 2016 though the matter is now pending before the Supreme Court after an appeal was lodged.

Several magistrates and support staff in the Judiciary have been dismissed over integrity issues, added Justice Maraga.

FIGHT GRAFT

The five-day workshop is being attended by judicial officers, representatives of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and EACC top officials led by the chairman Eliud Wabukala.

Mr Wabukala said perception among Kenyans was that graft was widespread and little gains were being made. Last year, 25 corruption related cases were finalised with 18 ending with convictions.  

APPEALS

The workshop seeks to come up with a collaborative approach to strengthening the fight on graft. In coming days, police and officials from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations would be engaged on how best to tackle corruption.

Mr Wabukala recommended that corruption related appeals from the lower courts should not be filed in the High Court but should be heard in the Judiciary’s Corruption and Economic crimes division.

He also called for severe penalties for those convicted of corruption crimes.