Four senior Kenyan judges found 'unfit for office' By DAILY NATION Reporter | Wednesday, April 25   2012 at  13:52

Four senior Kenyan judges including the appeals court head are unfit to hold office, a board charged with vetting judicial officers declared Wednesday.

The purge is seen as bold in a country where the public have for years lost faith in the judiciary over corruption and a perceived incestuous relationship with the executive.

Among those sent home were the president of the Court of Appeal Riaga Omollo and appellate judges Samuel Bosire, Emmanuel O’Kubasu and Joseph Nyamu.

The chairman of the judges and magistrate vetting board Sharad Rao said his team had cleared five other judges, namely Justices Onyango Otieno, Erastus Githinji, Alnashir Visram, Philip Waki and PhilipTunoi.

Justice Omollo was accused of authoritarianism on the bench and inconsistency.

He also failed to show impartiality during the repressive regime of former President Daniel arap Moi.

Justice Bosire was accused of condoning the torture of suspects during 1982 coup trials while Justice O'Kubasu faced accusations of accepting “gifts” from litigants.

Justice Nyamu was accused of lacking professionalism, candour and was a stumbling block in the fight against corruption.

In one instance he issued a permanent stay against the prosecution of George Saitoti over the Goldenberg scandal.

The board started the vetting on February 23. The first judge to face the panel was Mr Justice Omollo.

The vetting was done in private. Those dissatisfied with the decision have seven days to appeal to the board.

The vetting is taking place in keeping with a new constitution passed in August 2010.