CJ Maraga calls for collaboration in war on graft

Chief Justice David Maraga has called on stakeholders to join hands in the fight against corruption.

Maraga, who speaking in Naivasha yesterday, said the Judiciary was facing some challenges in its war against the vice, but was optimistic they would overcome them.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations have recently accused the Judiciary of frustrating the fight against graft.

They accused judges of being lenient to suspects by easily releasing them on bail.

Judges have also been accused of ignoring key evidence and delaying cases unnecessarily.

President Uhuru Kenyatta recently said courts were slowing down the anti-graft war.

But Mr Maraga defended his team, saying investigators were to blame for giving weak evidence but expecting convictions.

He called on the DPP to address cases of single suspects being represented by so many lawyers, taking courts a lot of time to hear and determine cases.

Maraga spoke during the 20th meeting of the National Council on the Administration of Justice (NCAJ). He said the war would only be won if stakeholders worked as a team, not just pointing fingers.

“We all need to come together and come up with practical solutions to the problem of corruption,” said Maraga, adding: “Effective administration of justice requires collaboration.”