Senior Counsel Ahmednasir Abdullahi on Tuesday, August 3 explained the reason he had never applied to become the Chief Justice of Kenya.
Speaking during an interview with NTV news anchor James Smart, the lawyer argued that he would apply for the top judicial seat to serve only in a military government.
He explained that as things stand, those who had the right skills for the job rarely got the opportunity to serve as the system was compromised to favour incompetent justices.
"I think I can only serve as Chief Justice in a military government. There are many candidates I've seen you know there are many candidates especially lawyers, guys in academics who are qualified but it saddens me to see that the people who apply are people I would not have considered even for lower jobs in the Judiciary," he stated.
Abdullahi alias "The Grand Mullah" went on to list three Chief Justices in the past who, according to him, went to great lengths in order to fight corruption.
"That's the tragedy about Kenya is that guys who can really change this place, I mean there are only three judges, you know there are only three chief justices that really transformed or fought this kind of corruption.
"Justice Cockar when he came, you know he really tried, he's very consecutive, he wrote a fantastic book and if you read that book of his, I mean the incidence of corruption he talks about in courts is amazing. The other one was Justice Gicheru, he tried his best and Willy Mutunga. The others are just there to lock time," Abdullahi stated.
The SC was debating the state of the Judiciary owing to the recent arrest of two High court judges and whether the current CJ is on the right path in ensuring the independence of the Judiciary.
The Grand Mullah pointed out that there is a difficulty of judicial reforms through accountability. This is in reference to Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu's proposed changes in which he seeks magistrates and judges to be held accountable for their actions.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, lawyer Apollo Mboya advocated for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms that strengthen the process of judges being held accountable.
"The point should be strengthening the accountability mechanisms and ensuring that if there are complaints, they are addressed expeditiously and disposed of. Currently, the JSC sits on several complaints and takes time to deliberate on the same," Mboya detailed.
Both practitioners shared sentiments on the fact that CJ Martha Koome should give out her blueprint, in the coming months, of reforms she is set to institute during her tenure.
"She should give us a blueprint which we would evaluate at the end of her tenure to check if she has achieved her legacy," Mboya stated.
