Watchdog wants nominees dropped

By LUCIANNE LIMO

A human rights watchdog has faulted President Kibaki over the recent controversial nominations to key constitutional offices.

The Kenya Human Rights Commission yesterday said the move further compromises the credibility of the justice system.

The commission claimed the suitability of Justice Alnashir Visram as Chief Justice was in doubt following some of his previous judgments that appeared to restrict freedom of expression.

"His likely appreciation of the Bill of Rights and capacity to espouse the spirit and letter of the Constitution is in doubt," said KHRC Director Muthoni Wanyeki at a Press conference, yesterday.

The commission at the same time said the choice of lawyer Kioko Kilukumi as Director of Public Prosecution missed the point since he represented Eldoret North MP William Ruto in a fraud case.

The suspended Higher Education Minister is one of the six post-election violence suspects named by the International Criminal Court.

Wanyeki asked Speaker Kenneth Marende and the Committee on Legal Affairs to reject names of the four nominees.

Mr Marende is expected this afternoon to rule of the matter in the floor of the House.

The human rights group also faulted Kibaki for allegedly carrying out the nominations without full consultations with Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

"Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s disapproval of the four nominees means that the Constitution and the National Accord have been breached," she added.