Gicheru: Judiciary set for reforms

By PAUL MUTUA and PATRICK BEJA

The Government has launched an ambitious reform programme in the Judiciary, Chief Justice Evan Gicheru has said.

The Chief Justice said the programme would open a wide and deep path on the type of judicial reforms that Kenya needs to be a modern and participatory democracy.

Yesterday, Mr Gicheru said the reform initiative, which also features in the Judiciary Strategic Plan 2009-2012, and contains a reform’s menu, was attainable with support from all stakeholders.

He spoke in Kitui County when he officially inaugurated Mutomo Law Courts in Kitui South constituency. Present were Machakos Resident Judge Hatari Waweru, High Court Registrar Lydia Achode, Kitui Principal Magistrate Alfred Kibiru, Mutomo Resident Magistrate Samuel Mutai and Mutomo DC Joel Cherop.

"Judicial reforms if properly implemented will result in greater efficiency in provision of judicial services, independence of the Judiciary and better access to judicial and legal services," Gicheru said. He said ensuring access to justice for all Kenyans has been the driving force behind the judicial reforms in recent years.

Lobbying for jobs

He urged all stakeholders in the administration of justice to eschew acts that tend to delay the course of justice and generally undermine it.

Meanwhile, Lands Minister James Orengo has denied claims ODM and PNU have engaged in horse-trading for the key positions in Judiciary.

He said the posts of Chief Justice, Attorney General and Director of Public Prosecutions were critical and needed to be handled carefully. For the past decade, the nation has had no independent Judiciary and hence the need to correct the situation, he said.

"Horse-trading for such positions can be the highest culture of impunity, which the Grand Coalition cannot afford under the new Constitution," Orengo said.

He spoke yesterday in Mombasa during ministry workshop on implementation of lands reforms under the new Constitution.

Mr Orengo said the Government was not ready to repeat mistakes of the previous regimes on the appointment of officers in the Judiciary.

However, he said he was aware lobbying has intensified for the posts. The minister claimed he was aware of powerful individuals who are lobbying for the posts.

He said the lobbyists were wasting their time, because the process of selecting the officials would be transparent and based on merit.

"Senior posts are no longer political or under the Constitution," Orengo added.