PM supports JSC nominees

Monday, 16 May 2011 00:05 BY STAR TEAM

APPROVE: PM Raila Odinga campaigns for ODM Kamukunji candidate Ibrahim Ahmed.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga dismissed as anti-reformists politicians opposed to the nominations of Dr Willy Mutunga and Nancy Baraza to the powerful posts of Chief Justice and Deputy Chief Justice.
Speaking at Kamukunji Grounds where he was leading the campaign for ODM's Ibrahim Ahmed alias Johnny, Raila said the party was supportive of the process which led to the selection of the two and which he described as "transparent and beyond reproach". "We are awaiting for Parliament to effect the same and have the offices filled immediately,”  Raila said.
 Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister Mutula Kilonzo warned judges and magistrates who have vowed to sabotage the two nominees as suspended minister William Ruto rallied political leaders into rejecting the two. “Tell them they are welcome to try. Let them try. I am not worried and everybody is free to do whatever he wishes, but they cannot succeed in challenging a process that has been endorsed by all Kenyans,” Mutula told the judges and magistrates who have said they will sabotage the two if their nominations are confirmed by President Kibaki, Raila and Parliament.
Mutito MP Kiema Kilonzo who professed to being Mutunga’s village-mate describe the JSC nominee as a cut above the rest and said rejecting the nominees would be to short-change Kenyans who desperately need change. “When they say the law is blind, that is epitomized by Dr Willy Mutunga. When people talk of dispensing justice without fear and favour, that is Dr Mutunga. I would urge fellows MPs to ignore all these and vote to get the two in those seats,” Kiema said.
Ruto led MPs opposed to the nomination describing it as unconstitutional. The position taken by Ruto sets the stage for a battle in Parliament when the names of the two are finally presented for review before formal appointment is made.
Speaking in Mombasa, Ruto questioned Mutunga’s ability to lead the judiciary. His concerns about Mutunga's ability or lack thereof are based on the fact that Mutunga spots an ear stud. Ruto called for prayers against the move to appoint Mutunga. “When it reaches a point where the one who is nominated to lead the judiciary is a man who puts on studs on his ears and says he talks to genies through the studs then we know that we need prayers as a nation,” Ruto said. “I do not think we can walk the road we are now being told that we are supposed to walk. I ask all Christians to pray for this country,” added Ruto.
The Eldoret North MP also said JSC ought to have nominated three people for the post and forwarded the same to parliament and the president.
His Kaloleni counterpart Kazungu Kambe called on the President Kibaki to reject the nomination of Mutunga because his powers have been usurped. “This country is not for those who wear studs, especially men. We must separate the maize from the chaff. Brethren, join us in defeating the devil,” Kazungu who spoke at the same event with Ruto said.
Newly elected Centre for Multi Party Democracy (CMD) chair Justine Muturi also claimed the nomination process had tied down the principals to accepting the two.His sentiments were echoed by Nithi MP Kareke Mbiuki.
Bishop Joseph Methu the chair of Federation of Indigenous and Evangelical Churches of Kenya intimated that his group might move to court to block appointment of the two on moral grounds.
The Federation was actively involved in campaigns against the new constitution and has been in recent months since taken a position to discredit the trial of the post violence suspects by the International Criminal Court at the Hague.“The church will do all it can to protect the moral integrity of our society and I can assure some people are moving to court to block the appointments of the two,” Bishop Methu said.