Orengo faults Uhuru's decision not to swear in the 6 judges, says it was 'unjustified'

Siaya Governor James Orengo has labelled former President Uhuru Kenyatta's decision to overlook six judges for promotion to the Court of Appeal and Environment court as unjustified.  

In a statement on Wednesday, issued just moments after the six judges were officially sworn into office, Orengo opined that the court officials met and exceeded all requirements needed to take up the new positions after being recommended for promotion by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) hence the subsequent fracas surrounding their appointment was baffling.

The six; Aggrey Muchelule, Weldon Korir, Joel Ngugi, George Odunga, and Judith Omange were part of a cohort of 40 judicial officers who were eligible for promotion in June 2021 after being vetted by JSC.

President Kenyatta however initially said that the six were underqualified for the roles before later stating that they had underlying integrity issues, based on findings from an alleged intelligence report.

"There was no justification at all to frustrate the appointment of the judges of the Court of Appeal, some of the best judicial brains. Kudos to Muchelule, Korir, Ngugi, Makori, Omange and of course Odunga. He and Ngugi are not just good judges, but also great scholars," said Orengo on his official Twitter account.

Earlier on Wednesday, Judiciary Chief Registrar Anne Amadi administered the oaths of office to the six judges in an event that was presided over by President William Ruto and witnessed by Chief Justice Martha Koome and her predecessor, former Chief Justice David Maraga. Deputy Chiej Justice Philomena Mwilu was also present.

"And Maraga was there to witness it all. An independent judiciary is paramount," added Orengo.

While overseeing the swearing-in ceremony, President Ruto reiterated that his administration will respect the independence of the Judiciary.

“That way we can promote Kenya as a country that attracts investment. Investors can have more confidence if we can dispense justice in a timely manner,” he said.