Immediate former Chief Justice David Maraga has criticized President Uhuru Kenyatta for refusing to appoint the six of the 41 judges recommended by the Judicial Service Commission.
Uhuru droped the six for having what he described as questionable characters but did not expound on the same.
Maraga in an interview with KTN News on Wednesday, June 9, said Uhuru’s refusal to appoint and swear the six judges will not only put their integrity and future judgments in danger but will also put their careers at risk.
“The thinking in Kenyans minds is that these fellows have integrity issues and when someone loses a case in front of these judges, they will come up with allegations,
“Frivolous allegations that this man was bribed and we have information he is someone who takes bribes,” Maraga said.
Maraga pressured President Uhuru to swear the six in then lodge a complaint before the JSC adding that the Head of State rejected the six without following due process.
“Swear these judges in then lodge a complaint before the JSC and whoever has been appointed will be removed,” he added.
Maraga’s sentiments come barely hours after his predecessor Willy Mutunga in a hard-hitting letter to the President launched an attack to Uhuru over his decision to drop the six judges.
President Uhuru declined to appoint High Court Judges Joel Ngugi, George Odunga, Aggrey Muchelule, and Weldon Korir to the Court of Appeal.
He also rejected JSC’s recommendations to appoint Judith Omange and Evans Makori as judges in the Lands and Environment Court.
Although President Uhuru said he rejected the six because they had integrity issues, unconfirmed reports suggest some of the nominees were left out because of how they handled drugs and terrorism cases.
Uhuru witnessed the swearing-in of the other 43 despite public uproar demanding him to either reject all the list or swear them all as recommended by the commission.
Uasin Gishu Woman Representative Gladys Shollei has also weighed in on the matter taking on President Uhuru for failing to appoint the 6 as required of him by law.
According to the former Judiciary Registrar, the appointment of judges is not dependent on what the president feels as the constitution is very clear on what to do if the said judges are found to be unfit.
