President Uhuru Kenyatta’s decision to reject 41 judges hired by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has cost the taxpayers approximately Sh25 million.
While rejecting the list presented to him by Chief Justice David Maraga, Uhuru cited questionable records of some of the appointees.
The move by the head of state has now led to a protracted battle in court.
It has now emerged that President Kenyatta has gone against the promise he made in 2015 concerning the appointment of the judges.
Uhuru had promised not to interfere or make the process stall in a statement to the former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga but that has not been the case.
The president had said that he will not disrupt the process and lead to the loss of public resources. The JSC took 31 days to scrutinize, shortlist and interview an estimated 502 applicants before presenting the names to the President.
The judges are expected to the Court of Appeal, Environment and Lands courts as well as Employment and Labour court.
A commissioner reportedly pocketed Sh40, 000 per sitting during the process and the whole exercising took around 50 days.
This implies that the judges pocketed Sh2 million from the process. According to lawyer Tom Ojienda, the taxpayers will suffer following the decision by the president.
“It is members of the public who are going to suffer at the end of the day,” Ojienda opined.
The president has ordered for the reconsideration of the names before they are presented back to him.