Judicial officers will work as a family unit under my watch, Nambuye tells panel

Court of Appeal Judge Roslyn Nambuye (pictured) has said that her first 100 days in office as chief justice will be used to ensure that judicial officers work as a family unit.

The lady judge told the Judicial Service Commission panel that her mandate will guarantee that systems are put in place so that judges and magistrates deliver.

“I will change the administration link between the headquarters and rural areas and ensure that each officer is working and paid for work they have done,” she said.

On corruption, the lady justice said that her formula to deal with the nightmare in the Judiciary will be to deal with both the giver and receiver of the bribe.

Nambuye’s suitability to be chief justice due to her slow pace in delivery of judgments emerged once again, years after the same was raised before the Judges and Magistrates Vetting Board. She was asked whether she could provide efficient leadership if she too was struggling with delayed judgments.

The judge said that she struggled with making timely decisions years before because of the non-conducive environment she worked in and not because she was ineffective. She said that in Eldoret, she had to manage two court stations at the same time and that in Machakos, she had no one to relieve her from work in order to make judgements.

“In 2003, I was branded as a corrupt judge but when I appeared before the tribunal, I was taken to task over inability to perform. I took documents to justify that I was a hard worker but the situations at the stations I was working in were a hindrance to my performance,” she replied.

Her soft-hearted nature was also questioned as something that would compromise justice. “One can be soft but firm. It is not a hindrance but an advantage. You can make people work without shouting or forcing them,” she said.