CJ interdicts four Judiciary officials

By Faith Kipronoh and Kamau Wa Muthoni

Nairobi, Kenya: Chief Justice Willy Mutunga Thursday interdicted four top Judiciary staff to pave the way for further investigations into their conduct.

In a statement to newsrooms, the four, who include Deputy Chief Registrar Kaikai Kissinger, Director in Human Resource and Management Dismus Obondo, Director for Supply Chain Management Martin Okwata and ICT Director Thomas Atak were directed to hand over to designated officers in an orderly manner pending investigations.

The move was prompted by an audit instituted by Auditor General Edward Ouko, which was based on the legality and regularity of the actions undertaken by judicial staff at various levels.

Public interests

“Preliminary inquiries by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) have surfaced important points of action to ensure greater accountability of all judicial staff and officers while closing any institutional and management gaps,” the statement read in part.

“In order to preclude the perception of conflict of interest in the course of these enquiries, the CJ, being satisfied that public interests require that an officer should cease forthwith to exercise the powers and functions of the office, has today interdicted the four officials,” the statement continued.

The outcome of the audit report identified several areas of investigation. The CJ said recruitment, promotion and remuneration of judicial staff needed further scrutiny.