NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 4 – Twelve applicants including a Ghanaian lawyer have applied for post of Chief Justice with an equal number interested in the newly created position of Deputy Chief Justice.
The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) that declared the positions vacant early last month following the end of the eight-year tenure of Evan Gicheru said on Monday they were now vetting the applicants.
Among those who have applied for the CJ\’s position include President Mwai Kibaki\’s nominee Justice Alnashir Visram whose name was rejected on grounds that the Head of State had failed to follow due legal process in nominating him.
Others are Court of Appeal Judges Riaga Omolo, Samuel Bosire and Joseph Gregory Nyamu. Among the High Court judges who are eyeing the post are Mbogholi Msagha, Kalpana Rawal, Mary Ang\’awa and Kihara Kariuki. Apart from the judges, others who applied for the position include Isaac Azania Bryant, Lee G. Muthoga, Dr Willy Mutunga and Edward Torgbor of Ghana.
The JSC said 12 other applicants including Justice Ang\’awa had applied for the post of Deputy Chief Justice.
The rest are Lady Justices Roselyn Nambuye, Mary Kasango, Scholastica Omondi, Hannah Okwengu and Martha Koome.
Others are Ms Nancy Baraza, Mrs Pamela Mwikali Tutui, Gladys Boss Shollei and Lucy Muthoni Kambuni.
Justices William Ouko, Nicholas Richard Ombija have also sent their applications for the post of deputy CJ.
The JSC said it will start shortlising the candidates beginning Monday next week.
"We will start interviewing the short listed candidates beginning the first week of May," acting JSC chairperson Professor Chritsine Mango said.
In the March 4 advertisement appearing in two local dailies, the JSC also asked interested candidates to apply for the post of Deputy CJ, marking the first time in the country\’s history that the top positions in the country\’s Judiciary had been publicly tendered.
Most of the candidates interested in both positions are serving judges.
Applicants for the office of CJ and deputy should have high moral conduct in both their personal and public lives.
Applicants for both positions are required to have "a high moral character, integrity and impartiality" according to the JSC advert.
Part of the requirements for the applicants to get the jobs include their contributions to the service to the public and community besides academic qualifications.
The CJ will head the Judiciary, preside over the yet to be instituted Supreme Court, convene and chair the JSC meetings and be the link between the Judiciary and other arms of government.
Also expected of the CJ is to assign duties to his or her deputy, to the President of the Court of Appeal, the Principal Judge of the High Court and the Registrar of the Judiciary.
Other duties include giving an annual report on the state of the Judiciary and the administration of Justice in the nation, exercising general direction and control over the Judiciary,.
Others are chairing the National Council on Administration of Justice, oversee the management and administration of the Judiciary Fund and discharging of any other functions as required by the laws of Kenya.
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