Endless intrigues call for public discussion on judicial reforms

The media reported that Justice Smokin Wanjala has now sought legal advice and filed a defence following a complaint that he, together with some members of the Supreme Court, allegedly accepted a bribe to influence their decision in the Wajir governor election petition. Eventually the affected four justices will defend themselves against the accusations they face, joining another judge of the same court, JB Ojwang, against whom the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has already advised the President to appoint a tribunal to commence formal disciplinary proceedings.

All this is before the JSC makes public the names of a further 13 judges, complaints against whom, it has already said have substance. It is going to be messy when all these disciplinary proceedings commence. Not since the two purges against the Judiciary after the Narc government took power in 2003, and again during the vetting that followed the enactment of the new Constitution in 2010, would there have been as much disciplinary activity in the judiciary as is likely to unfold in coming days.