Suspended Supreme Court judge Jackton Ojwang has made a plea requesting for a private hearing of his case.
The plea contradicts his earlier stand, where he had expressed his willingness to be tried openly.
Through his lawyer, Nani Mungai, Justice Ojwang claimed that an open trial might result in some “mischaracterisations.”
Speaking to the Standard, Senior Counsel Lucy Kambuni, the deputy chair of the tribunal, noted that one of the main issues the entity will handle is how to balance Justice Ojwang's right to privacy, and the need to provide the public with information.
“We are expected also to give some information to the public, factual information so that the public can know that the work of the tribunal is going on,” she said.
Justice Ojwang's request to have a private trial has elicited reactions from different factions.
Renowned lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi has questioned why the judge wants the proceeding to be conducted in private.
What is Justice Ojwang HIDING from public view and scrutiny? Totally unacceptable to have such an important tribunal hearing in-camera...," he tweeted.
Justice Ojwang is facing allegations of breaching the judicial code of conduct, conflict of interest among other allegations.