THE STANDARD
NAIROBI
Yano Alice Jepkoech is interviewed for the position of Chief Justice at the Supreme Court. [Collins Kweyu, Standard]
Lawyer Alice Jepkoech Yano’s lack of experience in handling big cases was one of the issues that arose during her interview for the position of Chief Justice yesterday.
Ms Yano was the last of the 10 candidates seeking to succeed retired CJ David Maraga and struggled to answer questions asked by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) panel on how she would handle some of the big cases at the Supreme Court when she has never even appeared before that court.
THE STANDARD
NAIROBI
Acting Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu. [File, Standard]
The High Court on Wednesday, April 21 temporarily stopped the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) from selecting a successful candidate from the ten legal experts who are interested in the Chief Justice post.
A three-judge bench comprising Antony Mrima, Hellen Onkwani and Reuben Nyakundi gave the directive after four petitioners sought a stop order, arguing all the candidates for CJ position had not met minimum legal requirements for consideration.
So far, the JSC has conducted eight out of ten CJ interviews.
The court, however, said the remaining two interviews can continue, but the winner shouldn’t be picked until the matter is heard and determined.
THE STANDARD
NAIROBI
Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu. [George Njunge, Standard]
Senior Counsel Philip Murgor wants Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu stopped from sitting in the interviewing panel in the search for a new Chief Justice to replace David Maraga.
Mwilu is a member of Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and Murgor is one of the candidates. The latter, in a letter to JSC, claims that there might be bias and favouritism towards another candidate, Senior Counsel Fred Ngatia.
Murgor claims that Ngatia had at one time represented Justice Mwilu during her vetting on suitability to be a judge in 2012 and that their relationship would present a conflict of interest.
THE STANDARD By
Paul Ogemba |
April 7th 2021 at 00:00:00 GMT +0300
Lawyer Alice Yano (center). [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]
Lawyer Alice Jepkoech Yano might pass as the little-known applicant for the position of Chief Justice and Judge of the Supreme Court.
She is the youngest of the 10 candidates seeking to replace Justice David Maraga.
But the 53-year-old senior partner and proprietor of Yano and Company Advocates has a wealth of experience that saw her serve as commissioner in the defunct Constitution of Kenya Review Commission.
Yano might have also not been involved in precedent-setting and landmark cases, and is not a flashy city lawyer with a big office, a chain of big clients and top bureaucrats seeking her legal counsel.
THE STANDARD By
Paul Ogemba |
April 4th 2021 at 00:00:00 GMT +0300
With only seven days left before interviews for the next Chief Justice start, opinions continue to be divided over who is the right candidate out of the 10 applicants.
Sharp divisions have emerged in the Law Society of Kenya over suitability of three candidates as the Federation of Women Lawyers (Fida-Kenya) came to the defence of two female applicants mentioned as unsuitable for the position.
Nancy Ikinu, Fida chair raised concerns over attempts to disparage the women seeking to be CJ and Judge of the Supreme Court, saying the two candidates had what it took to lead the Judiciary.