By David Ohito
Chief Justice Dr Willy Mutunga has appointed an eight member committee to design and execute a Judiciary programme to build the capacity of judges, magistrates and other judicial officers on electoral matters.
The committee will also and suggest ways of working with other stakeholders in resolving electoral disputes and offences.
“Heading into the biggest election this country has ever held, the Judiciary is keenly aware of its multiple, special roles with regard to the elections.” The CJ said.
He picked Mr Justice Mohammed Ibrahim of the Supreme Court to chair the Judiciary Working Committee on Elections. The Committee will also comprise Justice (Prof) Smokin Wanjala of the Supreme Court, Mr Justice David Maraga of the Court of Appeal, Mr Justice Paul Kihara Kariuki of the Judiciary Training Institute and the Court of Appeal, Lady Justice Helen Omondi and Mr Justice David Majanja of the High Court, as well as Hon. Roseyln Oganyo, Senior Principal Magistrate, and Lilian Arika, Principal Magistrate,both based at the Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi.
Mutunga warned that it will no longer be business as usual over electoral matters and nobody will be allowed to ignore or trash the covenants signed during elections.
“For a long time, Kenya successfully disguised its electoral weaknesses from the world, and thus appeared to do better than most of her neighbours.”
He warned: “Violence, in whatever form, is outlawed. Leaders at all levels must live by the values articulated in the Constitution. For political leaders and all those holding public office, the wages of violating any of the provisions of the Constitution are writ large in law.”
