Public asked to submit comments on CJ hopefuls ahead of April interviews

The Judicial Service Commission is inviting the public to submit comments on Chief Justice candidates before the interviews slated for April 12.

The feedback should be e-mailed to [email protected].

The JSC is in the process of recruiting the third Chief Justice since the promulgation of the constitution.

The Commission is also recruiting a Judge of the Supreme Court for the position which fell vacant in February 2020.

The judicial officers’ employer got a go-ahead to start the process of replacing Chief Justice Emeritus David Maraga who retired on January 11.

The position, which comes with prestige and hefty allowances, has attracted a number of sitting judges and lawyers.

They are Justice Said Chitembwe, Prof Kameri Mbote, Justice Martha Koome, Justice Njagi Marete, Senior Counsel Philip Murgor, Justice Mathews Nderi, Senior Counsel Fredrick Ngatia, Justice William Ouko, Prof Wekesa Moni and Ms Alice Jepkoech.

In a statement today, Judiciary chief registrar Anne Amadi said the JSC acknowledges that the recruitment of a Chief Justice is a matter of great interest for the public given the central role the CJ plays impacts the administration of justice and the lives of ordinary Kenyans.

“Any person with relevant information is welcome to submit the same in writing to the Commission’s Secretariat at the Kenya Reinsurance Plaza or by post.”

The Commission also held consultations with 30 stakeholders who were invited to share their perspectives on the recruitment and selection process.

In the last two weeks, the Commission met with Judges of the Supreme Court and with representatives of other Superior Court Judges, judicial officers and staff.

The JSC also met with representatives of Parliament, the Executive, county governments, the Law Society of Kenya, the Kenya Private Sector Alliance, various law schools and the Central Organization of Trade Unions.

The Commission also held consultative sessions with the clergy and civil society organisations.

Amadi said some of these have submitted written memoranda which will be considered by the Commission.