Acting Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu has set tongues wagging after sneaking basic grammar questions into the ongoing Supreme Court Judge interviews.
A grammatical question came up during the interview of Justice Alice Yano who was on the hot seat on the afternoon of Wednesday, May 5.
In her line of questioning, Mwilu put Yano to task to explain what the plural of the word counsel is.
"One advocate is called advocate and two two are called advocates. Another name of advocates is counsel... What is the plural of counsel," questioned Mwilu.
In all honesty, Yano admitted that it was the first time she had been hit by a question like that and noted that she was not fully aware of what its answer could be.
"I have never really thought about that. It is something that is new to me. I do not know whether to say counsellors or counsels. I cannot really commit myself to that," she answered
In another instance, Yano was challenged to explain the meaning of the word collegiality which she noted meant a college of judges. The word collegiality, however, means 'companionship and cooperation between colleagues who share responsibility.'
The line of questioning in the televised event caught the attention of Kenyans with many demanding that the interview be stopped while some spinning memes from still shots emerging from her interview.
"Stop the Alice Yano interview!! What?" Demanded a twitter user.
"Justice Alice Yano has so much confidence...She made a comeback even after being bashed," observed Jamumbo Amondi.
Since the beginning of the 2021 JSC interviews, the country has witnessed a rather interesting engagement between commissioners and the panellists.
During the interviews for the position of Chief Justice, Commissioner Evelyn Olwande questioned Chitembwe over bail rights for accused persons. On the matter, Chitembwe broke down as he used his own experience in which he was charged and later acquitted. At the time he was the company secretary at the National Social Security Fund (NSSF).
"When you go through the process you know better. My personal experience was me and the CEO of NSSF were prosecuted, then two lawyers joined the case with the intention to delay it, they filed the case to stop the hearing of the case," an emotional Chitembwe said.
On Tuesday, May 4, Mwilu put Justice Nduma Nderi to task over various issues regarding jurisdiction and cases of judgement.
"The court has a jurisdiction that is original and which it has yet to exercise, which would this be?" Mwilu prompted.
"Eeeerm.. the court... let's see.. I know I have it (the answer) my Lord but it keeps eluding me," Nduma answered.
Nderi was appearing for a second interview looking to fill the position of Supreme Court judge occasioned by the retirement of Justice Jacktone Boma Ochieng'.
