Envoys from the EU have come to Justice David Maraga rescue. They are now urging President Uhuru Kenyatta to appoint the 41 judges as nominated by the Judicial Service Commision(JSC). This support is not entirely unexpected. EU nations have vested interests in Kenya that requires occasional peep by the judiciary.
Uhuru has severally argued that some of the 41 judges are tainted by their past involvement in graft. Good argument. After all, sitting judges must be as white as snow…as dignified as Ceaser’s wife. The issues raised by President Kenyatta are weighty. Coming at a time when the country is geared towards a new head of state. Most of the judges will servecat the court of appeal. They are expected to hear election petitions arising from the 2022 elections.
The integrity issues raised by the President are very valid because there is every responsibility that the said 41 judges were handpicked to defeat justice in 2022. From where he sits, the President has a bird’s view of most of the nominees to key position.
As such, his opinion matters. It must count, just like that of the JSC. Our position is that a compromise must be reached between the President and Justice Maraga. We yearn for the appointment of new judge but not at all costs. Choices have consequences…both sides must take this into account. The judges will be by taxpayers. Tax payers must not be served by hand picked merchants fingered towards achieving a certain result
