Speaking after opening Judges Colloquium at Whitesands Hotel in Mombasa , Mutunga warned judges and magistrates who continue to take bribes from members of the public that their days are numbered.
“Although the Judiciary has done well overall, one of the issues that seems to be seeping back, and which I wish to raise directly with you is corruption. It worries me, as it should worry you,” he said.
He said he cannot allow Corruption to fester the Judiciary.
“Bribe taking is one of the most despicable expressions of self-disrespect that I have ever seen and it must stop. Corruption corrodes personal esteem, erodes public confidence in the institution.” said CJ.
He disclosed that the Judiciary Service Commission continues to receive complains of corruptions involving senior Judges and magistrates handling their cases.
“If we continue engaging in this immoral sport, then I can assure you the vetting exercise will be back – and this time – in a more vicious form than the previous one,’’ warned Mutunga.
Mutunga said the Judges have the obligation of maintaining the moral duty and a professional obligation.
He said the Judges with questioned integrity will be sacked.
The CJ announced the establishment 14 new High Courts to deal with backlog of cases in the Country.
“Out of the 47 Counties, only 13 do not have High Court Stations. We shall move to establish these as well in the next round of recruitment that JSC is about to embark on,” said Mutunga.
Several Judges and magistrates have lost their jobs after the Judges and Magistrates Vetting Board (JMVB) recommended their sacking over integrity issues.