By Betty Luke
Justice Said Juma Chitembwe, who is among the 10 shortlisted nominees for the Chief Justice post, intends to adopt a practical approach to the law if selected for the position.
The judge’s priority will be on ensuring that cases are settled within the shortest time possible to reduce backlog that Kenyan courts continue to grapple with.
During his more than 20 years in the Judiciary, Justice Chitembwe said, he had dealt with many cases and helped ensure quick resolve for faster adminstration of justice citing his service in Kakamega as among the areas he helped reduce the backlog.
The judge who is the first to be interviewed by the Judicial Service Commissioners said he will ensure a transformative judiciary through his slogan ‘Dispensing Justice within Reasonable time’.
He told the nine-bench of commissioners chaired by Prof Olive Mugenda that he will not initiate any project before completing the ongoing ones that were started by his predecessor and those that had stalled due to lack of resources.
“As the Chief Justice, I will not initiate any project before completing the ongoing ones,” he told the commissioners.
Others who have been shortlisted to fill the position are Prof Patricia Mbote, Justice Martha Koome, Justice Marete Njagi, Philip Murgor, Justice Nduma Nderi, Fred Ngatia, Justice William Ouko, Dr Wekesa Moni and Alice Yano.
The CJ post fell vacant following retirement of Justice David Maraga in January this year.
The commissioners will interview one candidate daily until April 23, 2021.
The panelists are Justice Philomena Mwilu who is the current Deputy Chief Justice, Mr Patrick Gichohi representing the Public Service Commission, Mr Macharia Njeru of the Law Society of Kenya, David Majaja representing the High Court and Attorney General Kihara Kariuki among others.
