Former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga visits David Maraga for handover

Chief Justice David Maraga (right) hands over a report on Sustaining Judiciary Transformation agenda to former chief Justice Willy Mutunga who visited him at his office. (Photo: David Njaaga/Standard)

Former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga on Tuesday reiterated that he still believes that Kenya is a bandit economy.

Speaking during official handover to his successor Justice David Maraga, Mutunga said nothing about his opinion on cartels had changed.

"I still believe that we have those issues of cartels and corruption," Mutunga said.

The retired CJ gave his successor a state of the Judiciary report.

He left the Judiciary at a time it was rocked with succession battles and corruption allegations.

The former Judiciary boss also left a divided Supreme Court.

"I was coming to pay a courtesy call and at the same time do a final handover which I hadn't done and basically congratulate him on the new post," he said.

The former CJ evaded questions about the house bought for CJ during his tenure, saying the issue was still under investigation and subject of a court case.

The former CJ never occupied the Sh300 million palatial residence in the upscale Runda estate but his successor says that he would 'move in fast' once issues touching it are resolved.

"There are few cases. I mean a case going on in court and there are few issues that are being sorted out and as soon as that is done, I will move in very fast. Don't give the public the impression that we are refusing to go in, it's the legal issues involved about that house," Justice Maraga said.

The current CJ also said that he would continue with what his predecessor had done in order to fully transform the Judiciary.

He said: "We have had a discussion on a number of issues and I am happy. I thank him for many things he had done in the Judiciary. If you have seen my blue print, it's carrying on about the transformation. Whatever new policies, we will be building on what he had done."