Kenya Judges and Magistrates Association Derrick Kutto with President Justice Jacqueline Kamau at Milimani Law Courts where they issued a press statement urging president Uhuru Kenyatra to appoint judges nominated by Judicial Service Commission on Tuesday November 19,2019./PHOTO BY S.A.N.
BY SAM ALFAN.
Kenya Judges and Magistrate Association has urged President Uhuru Kenyatta to gazette judges recently appointed by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).
In a press statement, the association through secretary general Derrick Kutto urged the president to uphold the constitution by appointing the judges nominated by the JSC. He was flanked by the association President Justice Jacqueline Kamau, vice president Everlyne Olwande, treasurer Mark Ekhubi, vice secretary general Muktar Salat and vice treasurer Charles Ondieki
They said months since the JSC nominated several judges to court of appeal, President Kenyatta has not appointed the nominees to take their offices to serve Kenyans.
“This is an affront to the constitution and rule of law and waters down the institution independence of the judiciary. It takes us back to the old order which Kenyans assertively put behind them,” said Kutto.
He added that failure by the President to appoint judges nominated by the JSC for various courts around the country has led to backlog of cases.
He further said that one of the pillars for sustaining judiciary transformation (SJT) blue print is “action on case backlog” and despite their small numbers of judges and magistrates have been burning both ends of the candle to reduce case backlogs. He said the judicial officers can only do so much.
“With this limited number, these efforts amount to naught. This has had the net effect of showing down the administration of justice. Wanjiku cannot celebrate when his or her case cannot be heard and determined in the shortest time possible,” added Kutto.
Justice Jacqueline Kamau said it is against this background that JSC advertised, shortlisted and interviewed applicants for various vacant positions and upon selection, the names were forwarded to the President for appointment as required by the constitution.
She added that statistics show that there about 400,000 cases being filed per year against a diminishing number of Judges and Magistrates.