Judges and Magistrates Vetting Board petitions MPs on tenure

KERICHO:Parliament has been asked to expedite the amendment of the law to extend the term of the Judges and Magistrates Vetting Board (JMVB).

Speaking after a training session for journalists and civil society organisations in Kericho County, JMVB Vice-chairperson Roseline Odede revealed about 120 magistrates were yet to be vetted by the board after its term expired in March.

"We managed to vet all Court of Appeal and the High Court judges, but the board suspended vetting of a section of chief and senior principal magistrates because our tenure elapsed," said Ms Odede.

She said the magistrates who were yet to be vetted could not be promoted until they undergo the screening.

Odede also pointed out that their work had been complicated further after the Kenya Magistrates and Judges Association moved to High Court seeking to stop it from investigating complaints arising after August 2010.

Lost case

The matter is currently before the Supreme Court after the board lost the case in the lower courts.

Odede argued that the vetting exercise was crucial since it aims at restoring public confidence in the Judiciary.

She at the same time appealed to members of the public with genuine grievances against the magistrates who are yet to be vetted to forward them to the board.

"If we do not get information from the public, then we will not be able to conduct a proper and honest task. Our goal is to ensure that we get as much information about the judicial officers as we can," she said.

In July this year, the Judges and Magistrates Vetting Board has found three magistrates unsuitable to continue serving in the Judiciary. The board dismissed Sogomo Gathogo, Innocent Maisiba and Isaac Orege, bringing the number of judges and magistrates sacked so far to 32.