Vetting board accuses CJ Mutunga of failing to tame graft in the Judiciary
Chief Justice Willy Mutunga. The Judges and Magistrates Vetting Board has said the responsibility of checking and stemming corruption after vetting lay with the Judicial Service Commission, chaired by Dr Mutunga. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The board said the responsibility of checking and stemming corruption after vetting lay with the Judicial Service Commission, chaired by Dr Mutunga.
- The board suggested that the Judicial Service Commission be given more powers to punish corruption and financial impropriety.
- On Tuesday, the board sacked eight magistrates it said had been involved in financial mismanagement.
The team vetting judges and magistrates has accused Chief Justice Willy Mutunga of failing to tame corruption in the Judiciary.
The Judges and Magistrates Vetting Board was responding to a statement by Dr Mutunga that he could reintroduce vetting.
The board said the responsibility of checking and stemming corruption after vetting lay with the Judicial Service Commission, chaired by Dr Mutunga.
“The board notes the widely reported concerns of the CJ that corruption is seeping back into the Judiciary.
“(The) corruption issue does not relate to us after the vetting,” Mr Sharad Rao, the board chairman, said Wednesday.
“If there will be a re-vetting, it will be after we have left.”
During the judges and magistrates’ annual conference in Mombasa last month, Dr Mutunga said corruption had tainted the Judiciary’s image.
“If we do not take personal and professional stands against corruption, I can assure you that vetting will be back and this time, in a more vicious form,” the CJ said.
MAGISTRATES SACKED
The board is in Kisumu to vet 16 judicial officers above the rank of principal magistrate who were not screened because of an error in law.
The Constitution mandates the board to determine the suitability of judges and magistrates who came to office before August 27, 2010.
Its decision is final. Any appeal can only be made to the board itself.
Last month, the National Assembly deleted a clause in the law that blocked the interrogation of officers above the rank of principal magistrate after March 27, 2013.
The board suggested that the Judicial Service Commission be given more powers to punish corruption and financial impropriety.
On Tuesday, the board sacked eight magistrates it said had been involved in financial mismanagement.
They are Mr Stephen Onsiero Mogute (Bungoma), Mr Ben Mwai Mararo (Kyuso), Mr Thomas Nzioki Thyaka (Lodwar), Mr Bernard James Ndeda (Thika), Mr Philip Wambua Mutua (Narok), Ms Grace Ayuma M’mmasi (Vihiga), Ms Stella Bonareri Atambo (Narok) and Mr Tito Maoga Gesora (Machakos).