- JSC vice chairperson Isaac Ruto sparked controversy after attending the UDA National Governing Council meeting convened by President William Ruto at State House
- His presence drew criticism from legal voices like Advocate Joshua Malidzo, who argued that the role requires strict political neutrality
- Malidzo urged Ruto to resign, warning that his political involvement undermines the transparency and credibility of the JSC’s upcoming judicial interviews
Kai Eli, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Judicial Service Commission (JSC) vice chairperson and public representative Isaac Ruto has rattled a section of Kenyans following his attendance at the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) National Governing Council meeting.
Source: Twitter
President William Ruto, in his capacity as UDA party leader, convened the NGC meeting at State House, Nairobi, on Monday, January 26.
Why lawyers want Isaac Ruto removed from JSC
The JSC vice chairperson’s presence at the meeting would come to unsettle many, who argue his post require of him to be politically nonpartisan.
Joshua Malidzo, an Advocate of the High Court, raised the concern, noting that Ruto had defiled his tenure at the JSC by actively involving himself in political activities.
The lawyer suggested that, going forward, the JSC’s engagements would not be viewed through transparent lenses due to Ruto’s open association with the regime.
Malidzo called on the JSC vice chairperson to resign.
“Basic constitutional hygiene demands that Isaac Ruto resign from the Judicial Service Commission and pursue his political interests outside the commission. He has no business sitting in next week’s interviews of High Court and ELC nominees,” he said.
Malidzo’s perspective got the backing of other lawyers, who argued that Ruto erred by openly associating himself with politics.
“This, I agree. It’s unprecedented for a JSC Commissioner to openly associate with a political Party. This has huge implications for the independence of the Judiciary. Impunity of the highest order!Very disgusting,” said Macharia Njeru.
Canada-based Kenyan lawyer Miguna Miguna also weighed in on the discussion, noting that such a display by Ruto erodes the public trust in JSC to undertake its mandate professionally without political interference.
Miguna put Chief Justice Martha Koome, who is also the JSC chairperson, to task over the leniency to judicial officers who seem to occupy themselves with political matters when they are expected to be neutral.
He asked Koome to remove Ruto from the JSC vice chairmanship.
“How can you engender public confidence when your Vice Chairman dons a partisan political party uniform and attends political functions? This has raised big questions about the integrity of your recent appointments to the High Court and Court of Appeal. Kenyans are extremely aghast at this violation of the Constitution. Isaac Rutto should be removed from his position at the JSC,” Miguna said.
Ruto, the first governor of Bomet, joined the JSC in 2023.
He sits on several committees, including Human Resource Management, Finance and Planning, and Administration of Justice.
His latest official engagement was the vetting of the applicants for the Court of Appeal judgeship.
At least 35 candidates were publicly vetted by the commission.
Source: Twitter
On January 22, the JSC announced 15 successful candidates from its interviews.
Who did JSC nominate for Court of Appeal judgeship?
Among them was Isaack Hassan, the current chair of the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and the founding chair of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
Also nominated was lawyer Katwa Kigen, a member of President Ruto’s ICC defence team back in the day.
Ten High Court judges, namely Justices Chacha Mwita, Hedwig Ong’udi, Rachel Chepkoech, Byram Ongaya, Stephen Radido, Mathews Nduma Nderi, Linnet Mumo Ndolo, Lucy Njuguna, Samson Odhiambo, and Munyao Sila, were also part of the nominees list.
Others were three seasoned Advocates of the High Court: Muriungi Kariara, Paul Lilan, and Paul Okello.
Kariara would bring advanced training from the University of Liverpool, Lilan combines law with leadership expertise from the Management University of Africa, while Okello adds an international perspective with a Master’s from the University of London, all holding law degrees from the University of Nairobi and postgraduate diplomas from the Kenya School of Law.
Upon their appointment by the president, the judges will be sworn in by the Chief Justice to embark on their new roles.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
