Legal Affairs Committee approves Martha Koome’s nomination as CJ – KBC

The Justice  and Legal Affairs committee (JLAC) has approved the nomination of Martha Koome for appointment as Chief Justice of Kenya.

National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi had gazetted a special house sitting this  Wednesday, for the tabling and debate of JLAC Report on the vetting of Koome.

“The approval is governed by Section 7 of the Parliamentary Approval Act. And the three issues we look at is the procedure adopted by the interviewing panels, the Constitutional and Statutory suitability and suitability in terms of experience and competence.” said Hon. TJ Kajwang

He added; ” The people before Justice Koome took a rather condescending attitude to the National Assembly arguing that they could not come to the jurisdiction of the National Assembly to make reports. They would rather send the registrar. We would want to see a Chief Justice who respects institutions and one day she would write to you Mr Speaker to allow her to come and commend herself to the National Assembly.”

” The committee unanimously endorsed the approval of Lady Justice Martha Koome for appointment by His Excellency the President to become the next Chief Justice of the Republic. She will be seeking to reclaim lost glory for the judiciary in line with the principles that were for a long time enunciated by the late Justice Chunilal Madan.” Hon. Muturi Kigano

Adding that; “She will critically think beyond Maraga advisory by invoking the principle that the law serves man and humanity and not the reverse. That the law is not static, must be actualized in a manner that contributes to good order. We found that she’s able to think outside the box and she would not be living in a judicial island. She aspires to do substantial justice other than delving on technical formalities.”

Once the committee tables the approval report, the whole House will then debate it and votes to uphold the decision or overturn it.

When the report is approved, the Speaker then communicates to the President the decision for formal appointment.

Judicial Service Commission unanimously selected, Martha Koome and forwarded her name to President Uhuru Kenyatta on April 27, beating 10 other candidates who were interviewed for the position of Chief Justice.

As a result of her nomination, Kenya is poised to get it’s first ever female Chief Justice to replace, David Maraga, who attained the retirement age of 70 in January.

The Judicial Service Commission (JSC), a constitutional body mandated to oversee all matters of the judiciary – including the selection of Chief Justice and Judges of the Supreme Court – settled on Koome after a rigorous interview session that lasted six hours.

Lady Justice Koome, who was vetted by the Committee on Thursday last week, now comes one step closer to succeeding retired CJ David Maraga.