Court of Appeal Judge David Maraga has told the Judicial Service Commission vetting panel he plans to restructure the Judiciary Ombudsman which will be headed by either a senior serving or retired jurist, to investigate complaints against judges if appointed Chief Justice.
Maraga appeared before the JSC on Wednesday morning for vetting as he seeks to become the second Chief Justice under the new Constitution following the retirement of Willy Mutunga in June.
According to the nation.co.ke, Maraga also said he will set up a full secretariat and have proper investigators to look into complaints as a way of reducing corruption and restoring public confidence in the Judiciary.
Other proposals in the judge’s to-do list include setting up an email address where complaints will be sent, stating that suggestion boxes are outdated and ineffective.
Justice Maraga who hails from Bonyamatuta in Nyamira County is the only Kisii is battling it out with candidates for the CJ position.
He told the vetting panel that he is a decisive person of integrity and humility, and good at time management.
Maraga who became the third candidate to be vetted by the panel said his record as the presiding judge of the appellate court in Kisumu from October 2014 to July 2016 help clear case backlogs after making 1,250 judgments.
He said he has never been challenged to influence a ruling in his judicial duties, attributes he said are critical for anyone serving as Chief Justice.