NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 22-The ex-Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairman, Wafula Chebukati, has failed to make the cut for the appellate court judges shortlisted by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).
Chebukati was among 82 applicants drawn from across the country who were eyeing the position.
However, the judicial body has listed 41 candidates as having qualified to take on the role including Chebukati’s predecessor, Issack Hassan, as well as Justices Chacha Mwita, Anthony Mrima, Lady Justice Grace Nzioka.
On February 9, 2024, JSC announced vacancies for 11 Court of Appeal judges who would serve until they attain the retirement age as stipulated in the law.
The interviews for the 42 shortlisted candidates will run from June 3–10, 2024.
Other notable figures who did not make the cut include IEBC vice chair Lilian Mahiri Zaja, Justice Nixon Sifuna and the Chairperson for the Centre for Multiparty Democracy (CMD) Priscilla Nyokabi.
The Chief Justice Martha Koome-led Commission has invited the members of the public invited to avail any information of interest concerning the shortlisted candidates on or before May 13, 2024, at 5:00 pm.
On February 2 this year, Opposition Chief Raila Odinga accused President William Ruto of planning to impose Chebukati as Chief Justice before the 2027 polls after the President met with Chief Justice Martha Koome at State House.
Odinga claimed at the time that Chebukati and his predecessor Hassan would first be appointed as Court of Appeal Judges, with Chebukati later being elevated to the CJ position in a purported scheme to “capture” the Judiciary.
“At the meeting, the Chief Justice and Mr Ruto reached an agreement that will supposedly allow Mr Ruto to provide additional funding to the Judiciary,” claimed Odinga.
“In return for this additional funding, Justice Koome is to advertise vacancies for five additional High Court Judges and 11 Court of Appeal judges. This is in addition to the 20 High Court Judges advertised last year.”
Odinga further claimed that, as per the alleged agreement, Ruto would submit the names of the five High Court Judges and two Court of Appeal Judges to the JSC.
“He [Ruto] floated the names; Immediate former IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati and former IEBC Chairman Ahmed Issack Hassan are to be appointed as Court of Appeal judges, with Chebukati being later elevated as the Chief Justice before the 2027 General Elections,” he claimed.
