Vetting board finds eight magistrates unsuitable

The Judges and Magistrates Vetting Board has found eight magistrates unsuitable to hold office after reviewing their applications.

High Court judge Grace Nzioka and 19 magistrates were, however, cleared after the Sharad Rao-led board reviewed its earlier recommendation for removal.

The magistrates whose applications were dismissed were Teresia Ngugi, Timothy Odiwuor, Wilson Kaberia, Ezra Awino, Samwel Gacheru, Bernard Ndeda, Wikinson Njage and Jacinta Dibondo.

The nine-member board made its last announcement on the vetting yesterday, closing its four and a half years vetting process. The chairman said the board had managed to score at least 85 per cent in its work.

Mr Rao expressed his disappointment in the Judiciary, saying the good image that had been built up after vetting has been tainted again by corruption. He defended those who went through the board saying the new judges and magistrates, who were not vetted were likely to be the ones who are sank into rogue dealings.

The board's term ended yesterday, but the National Assembly added three months in order to conclude its report.  Rao said there was need to have another neutral commission that would vet judges and magistrates continuously.

"The systems in place are not adequate to deal with discipline of judicial officers and staff.  There is need for the setting up of a swift, transparent and efficient system. There has been calls for an independent mechanism anchored within the Judicial Service Commission and we shall be making recommendations in that regard," he said.

Mr Odiwuor had complained that the board erred by finding that he dismissed a case on a mention date but the team found that the court records were factual.The board found that Ms Ngugi had not exonerated herself from corruption allegations despite providing more information on her finances.

Ms Dibondo was faced with accusations of bribery including allegedly receiving Sh70,000 to grant an order in court proceedings in Kericho Court. She also had several unexplained deposits in her accounts, including deposits amounting to over Sh1 million made between 2007 and 2009. She filed a review claiming there was bad blood between her and the accuser.