Recruitment of Maraga successor kicks off on Monday next week

The process of recruiting a new Chief Justice to replace the retired David Maraga formally kicks off next week on Monday.

The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has in a statement said that it will declare a vacancy in the office of the Chief Justice on Monday, January 18 after which a search for the candidate will commence in line with the constitution and the law and all the attendant timelines.

“The JSC would like to assure the public that the recruitment of the Chief Justice will be conducted in a professional, transparent and fair manner. To this end we will be issuing regular public updates,” read the JSC statement.

Maraga officially left office on January 11 and handed over to his deputy Philomena Mwilu who took over in acting capacity.

Maraga, who is known to pull no punches, used his final speech to slam politicians over claims that they are “better than judges.”

“I want to tell you judges, Kenyans have bestowed you to be the guardians of our constitution, I have heard politicians say they are better since they are elected. I want to tell you that you are in a better position than them. You live in this country and you have seen the politics. If you waiver, God will punish you. Do the right thing for the people of Kenya,” he said.

The retired Chief Justice, in a subsequent exclusive interview on Citizen TV, said President Uhuru Kenyatta has failed in his obligation to uphold and defend the Constitution and should therefore be impeached.

Maraga faulted President Kenyatta for not swearing in the 41 judges recommended by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) as required by the law, even after three court orders were issued directing him to do so.

“That is a Constitutional duty placed on the president. The President says he can’t appoint because there are issues; issues which he does not want to reveal. There are three court orders directing the president and even giving him a time frame and he has not appointed. As far as I am concerned that is a violation of his constitution duty. In fact if it was in other countries, the president would be impeached because he swore to uphold and defend the constitution,” said Maraga.