To enhance the fight against corruption the Judiciary and the National Police Service will form an investigation wing to handle corruption complaints against judges and magistrates, the Chief Justice Hon. David Maraga has announced.
Speaking at a workshop organized by Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) at Mt Kenya Safari Club Justice Maraga said once formed the investigating arm would work under the Judiciary ombudsman adding that corruption must be stamped out from the higher offices in the country and the Judiciary would not be left behind.
“The Judiciary has come up with some reform initiatives to fight this vice. Among specific measures include strengthening institutional complaints handling mechanism through the office of the Judiciary Ombudsman. The office receives complaints and forwards those that merit action to the Judicial Service Commission,” Justice Maraga told the workshop noting that pursuant to the reports of the office of the Ombudsman, a judge was removed from office in 2016 though the matter is now pending before the Supreme Court after an appeal was lodged.
Speaking at the workshop attended by judicial officers, representatives of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions the EACC chairman Mr. Eliud Wabukala noted that perception among Kenyans was that graft was widespread and little gains were being made. Last year, 25 corruption related cases were finalised with 18 ending with convictions.
The workshop seeks to come up with a collaborative approach to strengthening the fight on graft. In coming days, police and officials from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations would be engaged on how best to tackle corruption.
Mr Wabukala recommended that corruption related appeals from the lower courts should not be filed in the High Court but should be heard in the Judiciary’s Corruption and Economic crimes division.
He also called for severe penalties for those convicted of corruption crimes.
Story on: https://www.nation.co.ke/news/Body-to-probe-top-Judiciary-officers-/1056-4551964-jxoekqz/index.html
Photo: Chief Justice David Maraga at the ICJ Kenya Decriminalization and Reclassification of petty offences conference held in March 2017
