By RAWLINGS OTIENO
Kenya: Inmates at the Kamiti Maximum Prison have asked Chief Justice Willy Mutunga to clean up cartels at the court registry hindering quick dispensation of justice.
The inmates put the CJ to task over the long tedious journeys at the registry in getting judgements of convicts and fixing hearing dates for pending cases.
Double files, misinterpretation of law and unavailability of the judgements in time to launch the appeals are some of the challenges the inmates said they are faced with.
“We are appealing to you to clean up the registry so that we can get the services in time. We request you to look into the possibility of the judgements to be given to us in time to consider launching an appeal,” said one of the inmate representatives.
While accusing the Power of Mercy Advisory Committee of incompetence, the inmates questioned the modalities used in selecting those to get pardon on June 1.
The over 2,700 of them want the selection process to be fair and transparent since they alleged those deserving are not pardoned and instead those who have served shorter sentences are considered.
The Power of Mercy Act states that the committee shall, in making a recommendation consider the age of the convicted criminal prisoner at the time he or she committed the offence, the nature and seriousness of the offence and the time spent in jail so far.
The inmates also asked the CJ to consider termination of sentences slapped on them by judges whom the Judges and Magistrates Vetting Board found unsuitable.
While touring the correctional facility yesterday, the CJ reiterated that he would firmly deal with the cartels roaming in the corridors of justice out to swindle clients of their money.
But Justice Mutunga tore into their request and asked them not to be part of the cartel to speed up the process of getting justice.
He said the Judiciary is aware of the challenges facing convicts whose cases are still pending in court.
He said 92 cases will be heard from June 3 without halt or postponement at various Courts of Appeal.
