Chief Justice Martha Koome has once again asked President Uhuru Kenyatta to appoint the six remaining judges recommended for promotion by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).
Speaking during the swearing-in of the new President of the Court of Appeal Justice Daniel Musinga, Koome maintained that no binding reason had been adduced regarding the rejection of the six judicial officers and as such, the Head of State is under obligation to appoint them to their designated offices.
“I want to take this opportunity to reiterate my position as the Chief Justice and as the chairperson of the judicial service commission and state that all persons recommended by the JSC and as directed by the constitution must be appointed as judges, that is the law.” She said at the ceremony held at the Supreme Court in Nairobi.
She told members of the Judiciary that while she was glad that 34 out of the recommended 41 judges had been appointed and sworn into office, “it will be a remiss not to remember our four colleagues who should have been with us today but for reasons unknown to us they are not.”
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Describing the present situation the Judiciary currently finds itself in as bitter-sweet, she was clear that, as a judge, she didn’t want to enter into any controversy.
Even so, she said she will continue raising her voice regarding the matters affecting the operations of the judiciary.
“I am duty bound to reiterate this position and continue to call on his excellency the president to appoint the remaining six judges, four of whom will be joining this court (Court of Appeal).” She said
Those left out of appointment include justices Joel Ngugi, George Odunga, Weldon Korir, and Aggrey Muchelule.
Koome’s plea comes just days after President Kenyatta reiterated his decision to leave out the six judges, noting that that his actions are in the interest of the country.
Speaking during the swearing-in ceremony for the newly appointed judges, President Kenyatta maintained that he could not ignore available information putting into question the integrity of the affected judges.
“Just like you today, I too took the oath to both the letter and the spirit of the law and it is not open to me to turn a blind eye to reports of our state organs,” he said during the oath-taking ceremony at State House Nairobi.
