Race for CJ enters homestretch as FIDA comes to defense of female candidates

With only seven days left before interviews for the next Chief Justice start, opinions continue to be divided over who is the right candidate out of the 10 applicants.

Sharp divisions have emerged in the Law Society of Kenya over suitability of three candidates as the Federation of Women Lawyers (Fida-Kenya) came to the defence of two female applicants mentioned as unsuitable for the position.

Nancy Ikinu, Fida chair raised concerns over attempts to disparage the women seeking to be CJ and Judge of the Supreme Court, saying the two candidates had what it took to lead the Judiciary.

She said the three female candidates — Prof Patricia Kameri-Mbote (pictured), Court of Appeal Judge Martha Koome and lawyer Alice Jepkoech Yano — seeking the CJ’s position had had exceptional legal careers. 

“What is remarkable is their depth and breadth of legal expertise, public service leadership and commitment to legal profession and the country.

"A fair evaluation of their expertise, capabilities and capacity would result in a historically constituted Supreme Court,” said Ikinu.

Candidates’ suitability

Other candidates in the race to succeed retired CJ David Maraga are Court of Appeal President Justice William Ouko, Senior Counsel Fred Ngatia, former Director of Public Prosecutions Philip Murgor, High Court Judge Said Chitembwe, Employment and Labour Court judges Nduma Nderi and Njagi Marete and Prof Moni Wekesa.

Dispute over suitability of some three candidates was started by LSK president Nelson Havi on Monday when he wrote a memorandum to the Judicial Service Commission, claiming that the three had questionable conduct that made them unsuitable for the position.

On the first objection, the LSK president alleged that the said candidate had interfered with three judicial matters in which the applicant was involved in.

On the second candidate, Havi said the applicant’s past performance in public duties and utterances towards other public officers would compromise the performance of their duties for the top judicial post.

His contest against the third applicant was that the candidate’s conduct in a public process was a major concern if given the CJ’s position. But seven LSK Council members disowned the memorandum.

The JSC is set to begin interviewing the candidates on Monday, April 12.