Improved terms await judges who pass vetting

By Moses Njagih

The Judicial Service Commission says judges hired during the ongoing reforms will get improved packages.

The improved perks will be offered to those who will successfully go through vetting.

JSC member Ahmednasir Abdullahi did not give the figures but termed the perks as handsome and appealing.

The official was responding to a question posed by a candidate who was being interviewed for the position of High Court judge.

Lawyer Havelock Jonathan Bowen, 66, demanded to know from the interviewing panel what his pay would be if he is appointed a judge.

Havelockk, who practises with Stratton and Stratton Advocates, took the commission to task regarding the terms of engagement for the position he was seeking.

The lawyer took advantage of an opportunity extended to him by Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, who is the chairman of the commission, that he was free to direct questions to the panel.

But Mutunga, who was only recently appointed to his position, said he was not privy to what the judges were entitled to in remuneration and asked lawyer Abdullahi to respond.

Sneak preview

Abdullahi gave a sneak preview of what awaited those who would finally make it to the reformed Judiciary.

"You will be happy with what you get if you make it through. We have looked at the challenges faced by officials in the Judiciary. This is not only the judicial officers but all the staff including subordinates," said Abdulahi.

He added: "I will not say it is competitive, but those who will get the letters will certainly smile, it is a good package".

The commissioner said the Judiciary would now have financial independence and direct funding from the Treasury, which will make it easier to effect radical changes in the institution. Havelock defended his decision to seek a place in the Bench at 66 years, saying while in the past he had a chance to join the Judiciary, he was never convinced it was the right time.

Earlier, Kisumu Chief Magistrate Stephen Riechi had appeared before the commission and said time constraint was the greatest undoing on the magistrates’ ability to write researched judgements.

The magistrate was taken to task over what JSC termed as superficial judgements.

"Our busy schedule makes it impossible to find enough time to conduct researches which would result into better judgements," said the Chief Magistrate.