Judges taking oath/FILE
NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 31 – The Court of Appeal has now suspended the vetting of judges and magistrates until an appeal lodged by a law student is heard and determined.
Justices Emmanuel O’kubasu, Alnashir Visram and David Maranga have directed that the appeal be heard and determined within 21 days.
The student, Dennis Mogambi had appealed against a High Court order that threw out a case he filed challenging to the legality of the vetting process.
Mogambi argues that if allowed to proceed, the process will be unfair to the judicial officers since the officers will not have a right of appeal to decisions reached by the vetting board.
He also objects to the board starting vetting, claiming that the judicial officers will not have enough time to prepare their case or defend themselves against any accusations or positions.
The board is chaired by Sharad Rao. The last member to be sworn into office two weeks ago was South African judge Albert Sach.
Read related story here and also here
Other members are; Meuledi Iseme, Justus Maithya, Ngotho Kairuki, Abdirashid Abdullahi, Roselyne Odede, Zambian Fredrick Chomba and Ghanaian CJ Georginah Woods.
The board will vet judges and magistrates who were in office as at August 27, 2010 to determine their suitability to continue in office.
You can also read a blog on vetting of judges here
The board was established by the Vetting of Judges and Magistrates Act 2011 that received Presidential assent on March 21 last year.
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