LSK to host forum on Parliament, Judiciary standoff

By Robert Nyasato

Kenya: The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) is set to hold an open forum to discuss the standoff between the Judiciary and Parliament.

LSK Secretary Apollo Mboya said the forum to be held at Serena Hotel in Nairobi today, will also discuss the current goings-on at the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).

A dispatch from LSK indicated that legal experts lined up for presentations include the Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution Chairman Charles Nyachae, the Ombudsman Chair Otiende Amollo, Senior Counsel Paul Muite and former Director of the defunct Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission, Prof PLO Lumumba among others.

Deliberations

Over 100 lawyers are scheduled to grace the deliberations.

“LSK has invited presenters for the discussions towards a way forward on happenings at the JSC and standoff between Parliament and the Judiciary,” Mboya said.

The standoff between the Judiciary and Parliament follows a recent summoning of the JSC commissioners by the Parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs.

The Kenya Judges and Magistrates Association recently called on the JSC to ignore the summons arguing Parliament had no supervisory powers over the Judiciary.

To the contrary, Parliament cited Article 125 of the Constitution that empowers any of its committees to summon any person to appear before it for purposes of giving evidence and providing information.

The Parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs further argues that Article 159 of the Constitution gives judicial authority to Parliament on behalf of Kenyans.