Vetting sign of growing democracy

Kenya is on the right path to democratic maturity. The democratic gains we are achieving should not be taken for granted.

For the first time in our history, the public has a chance to participate in hiring of senior State officials, in particular the Judiciary.

President Kibaki regime will be remembered for this. We had never known this during the past regimes and consequently, we never bothered to know the criteria of hiring such officials.

We are growing democratically and the kind of vetting and scrutiny we are subjecting our senior State staff should apply in all Government institutions to curb corruption.

We should start with the 2012 presidential aspirants, senators and county governors. They should be vetted and only the qualified ones should contest.

Integrity and transparency is what Kenyans want to kill the monsters of corruption and impunity. Days are gone when Kenyans were kept in the dark over top leadership, which was earlier considered top secret ‘Government business’.

The Judicial Service Commission and the police reforms committee are doing a great job. This is what democracy calls for.

{Charles Mghenyi, Mombasa}

The Church has consistently opposed the nomination of senior Judiciary officials on morality grounds. This was also manifested during the ongoing public scrutiny of the nominees.

The Church is right to raise the issue of morality in our public offices. Those faulting it should stop it because most of them never complained when Deputy House Speaker Farah Maalim ordered Makadara MP Gidion Mbuvi out of Parliament for putting on a stud.

The same Parliament does not allow women to wear trousers. If Parliament cannot allow ‘indecency’, why should an equal arm of Government in the name of Judiciary allow it?

The same House must also reject Dr Willy Mutunga as head of Judiciary for wearing earrings. It is high time politicians demonstrated their integrity.

The Church as been wrong in certain issues but not on this one, this time round.

{Geoffrey Makokha, Kitale}

The zeal with which the clergy have gone about opposing the nomination of the two judicial nominees, is nothing short of astounding. They seem to be actuated by personal vendetta against the two.

Church leadership in Kenya is not without blame. Those privy to what goes on in religious circles know there are pastors and bishops who do not see eye to eye. Some are even avowed enemies and cannot share a platform.

Now I would ask, "Is wearing an earring or writing academic thesis on gay rights a greater sin than hatred, according to the bible?

What of the clerics’ role in the 2007 General Election that led to balkanisation of our lovely country into tribal lines?

I consider their stand now, an appallingly hypocritical and downright pretence. Why assume a holy than thou attitude, now?

They should be the last to cast a stone unto the nominees on morality grounds.

Again, Kenya wants judicial officers and not religious leaders.

{Edwin Mulochi, Nairobi}