I will serve for 5 years if appointed CJ, Judge Mbogholi tells panel

High Court Judge Msagha Mbogholi was the second applicant for the Chief Justice post to appear before the Judiciary Service Commission (JSC) panel.

The judge on Tuesday morning said he would accomplish a transformative agenda in the Judiciary within five years.

He told the panel that a Chief Juntice (CJ) should serve for five years, claiming complacency sets in if one stays longer.

“If a CJ stays for too long complacency sets in and the CJ gets familiar with many players [and] hence susceptible to compromise by external forces,” he said.

The Constitution states that a CJ shall hold office for a maximum of 10 years or until attaining retiring age.

He said he is one of the longest-serving judges in the Judiciary and is therefore the most suitable to become CJ.

He also said he has experience having headed various divisions of the High Court.

He pledged to satisfy the desire of Kenyans to access justice and build their confidence in the Judiciary.

Justice Mbogholi said if selected, he would ensure magistrates and judges undergo fresh training for effective delivery of justice.

He said he would also introduce case managers and chief court administrators and ask judges to file returns of pending cases at the end of the year to reduce case backlogs.

Court of Appeal Judge Alnashir Visram was the first applicant to face the JSC on Monday at the Supreme Court building.