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| Suspended Higher Education Minister William Ruto |
Nairobi lawyer Kioko Kilukumi will no longer represent Eldoret North MP William Ruto in the 96 million shillings fraud case.
Kilukumi withdrew from the case Monday morning citing his nomination to the post of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
He was nominated by President Mwai Kibaki last Friday alongside Prof. Githu Muigai as the Attorney General, Justice Alnasir Visram as Chief Justice and William Kirwa as controller of budget.
However, the judicial appointments have sparked war of words in the Grand Coalition government.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga says he was not consulted as required by law. The civil society has also joined the row claiming that the president violated the provisions in the new constitution.
Government spokesman Dr. Alfred Mutua on Saturday defended the president saying consultation does not mean concurrence.
The four nominees will be vetted by parliament.
Chief Justice Evan Gicheru will vacate office by February 27 while attorney general Amos Wako and Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko will leave office by August 27 this year.
Ruto is accused of accepting at least Sh38.8 million from former Kenya Pipeline Company manager Hellen Njue, by pretending he would sell the oil firm land in Ngong Forest.
Amongst those accused in the case are Joshua Kulei, a former aide to retired president Daniel arap Moi and Sammy Mwaita, former Commissioner of Lands and currently Baringo Central MP.
Meanwhile, the Judicial Service Commission has rejected the nominations made president Mwai kibaki to the positions of Chief Justice, attorney general, Director of Public Prosecutions and Controller of the budget.
The Commission says it should have been fully involved in the recruitment process.
Addressing the press in Nairobi high court registrar Lydia Ochode said the law gives the commission the mandate to conduct the recruitment exercise.
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