Board roots for lifestyle audits on all Kenyan judges

The Judges and Magistrates Vetting Board now wants the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to conduct lifestyle audits on judges and magistrates in order to curb corruption in the Judiciary.

The board has called on Chief Justice Willy Mutunga to adopt the idea as a way of restoring public confidence in the institution.

Speaking at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology during the board's workshop with civil society organisations and journalists, board members Ngotho wa Kariuki and Meuledi Iseme pointed out the increased number of complaints against magistrates and judges during the vetting exercise.

Ms Iseme said the move would be in line with other leading organisations in the country including the Kenya Revenue Authority, which has adopted the exercise to ensure that employees have dignified and more professional lifestyles.

EXTRA MONEY

"JSC should follow suit and adopt lifestyle auditing of all its employees," said Ms Iseme.

Prof Kariuki echoed the sentiments, saying such an audit would enable the judges and magistrates to explain their sources of extra money.

Kariuki added the audit would constantly check the judicial officers' daily expenditure and ensure they did not use their offices to exploit Kenyans.

He added that in the recent vetting exercise, they established that a majority of the judges and magistrates had several mortgages that were not equivalent to their monthly pay.

"It is not logical for a judge to have many funds in his account that are not well reflected in his employment form. A judge will have to fill a form that states all his sources of income that will be used in the audit," said Kariuki.