THE Judges and Magistrates Vetting Board announced yesterday that four appeal court judges were unfit to serve in the judiciary. The vetting was provided for under the new constitution because Kenyans had lost confidence in the integrity and independence of the judiciary.
Some judges and magistrates in the past unfairly deprived people of their businesses, property and livelihoods through improper courtroom dealings. The vetting board process was long overdue. Kenyans are now starting to regain confidence in the judiciary under its new Chief Justice Dr Willy Mutunga who is sustaining the reform momentum.
But matters should not stop here. The Law Society of Kenya should also initiate a process to clean up its membership. They too should vet lawyers, or at least act decisively on allegations of corruption.
In the meantime the vetting board is about to embark on vetting 45 judges and 352 magistrates. They should all do some deep soul-searching. This new vetting board is clearly intent on cleaning up the judiciary. If these judges and magistrates resign before vetting, they will retain their pensions and retirement benefits. If they are fired, they lose everything. Judges and magistrates with a guilty conscience should resign now.
Quote of the day: "A wise man proportions his belief to the evidence." - Scottish philosopher David Hume was born on April 26, 1711
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