NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 31 – Prime Minister Raila Odinga has maintained that the appointments of three top judiciary jobs were unfairly done.
Addressing a public rally in Makongeni on Sunday, the Premier said the jobs should have been subjected to competition.
“We should give other Kenyans an opportunity to apply and the most qualified be appointed. But most importantly you cannot make appointments without women representation as stated in the Constitution,” he said.
Mr Odinga said there was no need to rush in making the nominations and accused President Kibaki’s confidants of misleading him.
“I don’t like arguing with President Kibaki because we are partners but we should do things diplomatically. There are those people who are pushing him and those are the bad ones,” he said.
“The Constitution says the Attorney General has until August to vacate office so there is no rush to conduct the appointments,” he added.
On Friday, President Kibaki nominated Justice Alnashir Visram to be the new Chief Justice of Kenya, Professor Githu Muigai as Attorney General, and lawyer Kioko Kilikumi as the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The Prime Minister\’s camp immediately dismissed the appointments saying although discussions had been underway, the two principals were yet to agree on the nominees.
But a statement from the Presidential Press Service said the appointments had been made after consultations with Prime Minister and in accordance with the Constitution, but this was disputed by Raila Odinga’s key ally James Orengo.
Mr Orengo who also attended the rally called on the Prime Minister not to give in saying the President must respect the rule of law.
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