Interviews for Kenya’s next Chief Justice kicked off on Monday with the first candidate Justice Said Juma Chitembwe taking to the floor.
He is among 10 candidates who are being considered for the position after three initial applicants were dropped.
The remaining nine are Prof. Patricia Mbote; Lady Justice Martha Koome; Justice Marete Njagi; Philip Murgor; Justice Matthews Nduma; Lawyer Fredrick Ngatia; Justice William Ouko (Court of Appeal President), Dr. Wekesa Moni and Ms. Alice Yano.
Each candidate has been allocated one slot per day in the interviews that will run until April 23.
On Monday, Justice Chitembwe began by giving a summary of his tenure at the Judiciary.
“I have been in this judiciary for 12 years… I have seen it from where we didn’t even have a pen to write… The judiciary needs someone who understands it and who is energetic, resourceful and one who can work with those who are within so that you can enhance the institution. I know where we have done it well and where we can do better and improve the institution. I’ll build on what others have done with the sole purpose of improving the institution,” he said.
The panel then asked him what he sees as the role of the Chief Justice to which he replied: “The role of CJ is quite wide… It’s not something you can say is a simple job but it is provided for in the Constitution.”
Panel: What you have done to support your position?
Justice Chitembwe: Leadership has been defined in many ways… I’m not here to tell you I am a traditional .. charismatic leader … I will be a people centered leader whereby you use the experience and energy if those you are working with to transform the institution.
I have been a presiding judge… I do work with the low… I’ve worked with everybody and I have been able to reduce the backlog and when I was in Kakamega, I overworked myself to a extension of being diabetic but I work for the people.
My vision is to hear cases and clear the backlog… Issues of corruption are because cases are piling in court and so we have to come up with alternative way to. Clear this case. Core problem is the typing of proceedings…
NEXT INTERVIEWS FOR CJ KICK OFF WITH JYSTICE SAID JUMA CHITEMBWE
