Kenya searching for new Chief Justice

By Athman Amran

The race for the jobs of Chief Justice and deputy Chief Justice kicked off on Friday almost a week after the eight-year term of Evan Gicheru at the helm ended.

In the Friday’s issue of the Kenya Gazette, the Judicial Service Commission declared the CJs seat vacant and created the position of deputy CJ.

The JSC also put up advertisements for the two positions in Friday’s newspapers.

This is the first time in Kenya’s independent history that top judicial office has been advertised as opposed to previous practice where the president directly appointing the occupant.

Equally, this is also the first time that Kenya will be having an assistant CJ.

Applicants for the office of CJ and deputy should have high moral conduct in both their personal and public lives.

Applicants for both positions are required to have "a high moral character, integrity and impartiality".

Their contributions to the service to the public and community apart from other academic qualification and conduct and performance in their professional duties are also a requirement.

The CJ will head the Judiciary, preside over the yet to be instituted Supreme Court, convene and chair the JSC meetings and be the link between the Judiciary and other arms of government.

Also expected of the CJ is to assign duties to his or her deputy, to the President of the Court of Appeal, the Principal Judge of the High Court and the Registrar of the Judiciary.

Other duties include giving annual report on the state of the Judiciary and the administration of Justice in the nation, exercising general direction and control over the Judiciary, chairing the National Council on Administration of Justice, oversee the management and administration of the Judiciary Fund and discharging of any other functions as required by the laws of Kenya.

The deputy CJ’s work is to deputise the CJ, be the Vice-President of the Supreme Court, be responsible to the CJ in the exercise of the duties assigned to him or her and discharge any other functions as required by the laws of Kenya.

The advert says: "In addition to the above qualifications, the candidates must have demonstrated to a high degree of professional competence, communication skills, fairness, good temperament, making good judgments in both legal and life experiences, and commitment to public and community service".