JSC starts search for Deputy Chief Justice
Justice Abida Ali-Aroni being interviewed by the JSC for the post of Deputy Chief Justice. PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) on Monday began interviewing applicants for the position of Deputy Chief Justice to succeed Justice Kalpana Rawal, who retired in June under controversial circumstances.
High Court Judge Abida Ali-Aroni was the first applicant to face the panel.
She said if appointed DCJ, she would want to assist the Chief Justice in clearing backlog, fight corruption in the judiciary and make it effective and efficient.
She said the number of Supreme Court judges should be increased for it to continue functioning when some judges are absent.
She said currently, the Supreme Court is unable to sit due to lack of quorum.
There are 16 applicants for the Deputy Chief Justice (DCJ) position. Besides the office holder's judicial functions as a member of the Supreme Court bench, the DCJ is also the deputy head of the Judiciary and vice-president of the apex court.
Court of Appeal judges Agnes Murgor, Fatuma Sichale and Hannah Okwengu will also be interviewed for the post.
Other serving judges and magistrates in the race are Lydia Achode, Martha Koome, Pauline Nyamweya, Philemona Mwilu, Roselyn Nambuye, Wanjiru Karanja and Judith Mulama Wanjala.
Other applicants are Pamela Tutui, former Commissioner of Assize; Surinder Kapila, a non-executive director of Ecobank Kenya; US-born lawyer Isaac Rutenberg, the director of the Centre for Intellectual Property in Information Technology at Strathmore University Law School; and David Mwaure Waihiga, a lawyer and politician linked to the Agano Party.
