JSC told to recruit a candidate with liberal mind to be next Chief Justice

Lawyer Ken Amondi who has urged the Judicial Service Commission to recruit a liberal minded candidate as the next Chief Justice to replace David Maraga-Photo Courtesy

 

By Dickson Odhiambo

April 7, 2021

JSC told to recruit a candidate with liberal mind to be next Chief Justice

THE Judicial Service Commission has been told to recruit a person with liberal mind to be the next Chief Justice to replace the retired Chief Justice David Maraga.

Lawyer Ken Amondi says a candidate with liberal mind will ensure he comes up with radical decisions where need be so as to put both the National and County Governments under checks.

Addressing the media in Kisumu, Lawyer Amondi says as country is not in a state of being comfortable with a conservative Chief Justice to replace the retired Chief Justice.

Amondi says in a situation where the Executive can be “rogue” or Parliament can decide to abdicate its responsibilities to the Executive wing of the National Government then the only arm of the Government that can remain to stand for the people is the judiciary hence the need to have a bold and liberal minded person to be the next Chief Justice.

“The next Chief Justice must be someone who is ready to find it easy to advance the course of human rights through decisions of the Supreme Court which would ultimately as it were stand to be the laws in Kenya,” Amondi says.

Amondi says the office of the Chief Justice is very instrumental as far as the issues of the Country’s Social, Political and economy is concerned.

He adds that the next Chief Justice should be able to ensure that Court orders are fully adhered to from all quarters.

“A number of court orders have been flouted hence we need to have a liberal and bold Judiciary that will ensure that all the other arms of the government are put under proper checks,” he adds.

Lawyer Amondi’s  sentiments comes barely more than a week after the Judicial Service Commission issued an update on how Kenyans can participate in the ongoing recruitment of a new Chief Justice as speculation continue to rise on who will succeed the retired Chief Justice David Kenani Maraga.

The Judicial Service Commission has set to begin the interviews today for the candidates who applied for the position of the Chief Justice.

The candidates who have applied for the position of the Chief Justice to replace Maraga include Justice William Ouko, Justice Said Chitembwe, Justice Martha Koome, Justice Mathews Nduma Nderi, Justice Njagi Marete, Senior Counsel Fred Ngatia, Senior Counsel Philip Murgor, Prof Kameri Mbote,  Prof Wekesa Moni and Ms Alice Jepkoech.

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