By Geoffrey Mosoku

Kenya: Former electoral body commissioner Ken Nyaundi has withdrawn his candidature for the vacant Judicial Service Commission (JSC).

Nyaundi, in a letter to fellow lawyers, said he will not be offering himself for election in the polls set to take place in December by members of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK).

“I write on my discussion with you on the prospect of my candidature in the forthcoming election for the LSK nominee to the JSC; not without immense personal pain, I convey the message that I will not be offering myself for this position at this time,” he said in a letter seen by the Standard.

Nyaundi who served in the defunct Interim Independent Electoral Commission (IIEC) has cited the political dimension that the campaigns took as his main reason for quitting the race.  

“In the few days I have spent articulating my vision and hearing your views, I have increasingly noted approaches more commonly associated with contests within the political arena than one within a society of esteemed professional colleagues. This is not in keeping with my philosophy for this office. Consequently, am constrained to reconsider and to withhold my candidature,” he said.

It’s also understood that the ex-commissioner made the decision as it emerged that some lawyers were using monetary inducements to solicit for their support.

Although, Nyaundi did not says it directly, his assertions that; “the vision that motivated me to consider offering my candidature to this important office exists solely within the context of the values, codes and principles that bind us as a profession,’ is an indicator of the heavy use of money.

“The challenge falls to us as a society to continue improving this process so as to match the esteem and codes associated with our profession.”

His exit now leaves the battle to between two former LSK chairmen Okong’o O’mogeni and Tom Ojeinda.