The succession battle witnessed in the Judiciary can be resolved if Chief Justice Willy Mutunga postpones his early retirement for a few months to avert a bitter fallout in the legal institution, a Senator has proposed.
Nyamira Senator Okong’o Mong’are, a renowned lawyer, now says the succession intrigues are precipitated by the inability of the Chief Justice to take control despite his expected retirement.
“My learned friend Mutunga seems to be concentrating on his retirement than what’s happening within the Judiciary. The honourable institution has been turned into a battle ground for learned people and this isn’t a good indication to the public,” he said.
“The CJ should postpone his retirement to ensure he puts things in order and to guide a smooth transition in collaboration with Judicial Service Commission. If he stays in the system for a little moment, we will see some decorum and not what we are witnessing now,” he added.
He warned that the Judiciary risked losing credibility if Mutunga fails to offer leadership at this critical transition time.
“In any established democracies, the outgoing CJ sets certain standards and that includes being very active in office even at the eve of retirement. He has now given some judges who are interested party to infringe the same law and justice they should protect. He should prolong his retirement for a bit,” he said.
The Judiciary has been rocked in bitter succession battles, accusations and counter-accusations with top judges keen to replace Mutunga who is set to retire on June 16.