Chief Justice David Maraga on Tuesday divulged that corruption suspects are likely to walk free if the defense teams do not present solid pieces of evidence against the suspects.
Speaking during the swearing-in of judge William Ouko as the President of the Court of Appeal, Maraga noted that investigators and prosecutors tend to present "half-baked" cases then fault the Judiciary when suspects are not acquitted.
"No one should expect a conviction if no incriminating evidence is presented in court," the President of the Judiciary exclaimed.
[caption caption="Newl Appointed President of the Court of Appeal Justice William Ouko"]
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He further asserted that the judiciary will not be used by either the executive or legislature as a scapegoat in the war against corruption.
Additionally, the CJ expressed that lack of evidence is a disservice to victims, the Judiciary and the public whose level of trust in the judicial and legal system declines over time.
Maraga also mentioned that with sufficient evidence and proper investigations, Kenyans would be justified in expecting a conviction.
The CJ went ahead to term corruption as the single biggest threat to the social and economic development of the country.
He also pointed out that the government loses up to 30 percent of is the national budget to corruption every year.
Affirming that the Judiciary would play its role in containing the vice, Maraga disclosed: "I have called for more capital and human resource and for cases of corruption to be prioritised to ensure trials are concluded expeditiously."
The CJ also commented that he has given firm instructions for corruption cases to be heard daily so as to hasten the process of prosecution.
"The days when such cases took up to five years or even longer to determine are a thing of the past," Maraga concluded.
[caption caption="Chief Justice David Maraga during the hearing of the presidential petition of the August 8, 2017, general elections "]
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