Chief Justice Mutunga says he will not quit early
Chief Justice Willy Mutunga has said he will stay on and complete his reforms in the Judiciary.
Speaking in Kakamega during the launch of the Justice@Last initiative, the CJ said his agenda of eliminating corruption and improving infrastructure would not end halfway.
Dr Mutunga, whose term of service expires in June 2017, however avoided reference to media reports that he planned to retire early.
Two MPs, Mr Ken Obura (Kisumu Central) and Nyando’s Fred Outa, said Kenyans still needed Dr Mutunga though Siaya Senator James Orengo appeared to support the early retirement suggestion.
The CJ also said a new modern High will be constructed in Kakamega at cost of Sh 280 million.
NEW COURT
The construction of the new court is expected to start in May and will take 18 months to complete.
Meanwhile, Dr Mutunga has asked the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) to rein in young lawyers he described as “drunk and noisy”, saying their conduct was tainting the image of the profession.
The CJ said he recently got an invitation to dinner by the LSK but he was unable to deliver his speech because of the lawyers.
“I had a difficult time addressing the gathering because the lawyers who were drunk could not listen to me,” Justice Mutunga said.
Dr Mutunga was also alluding to the recent scuffle at the LSK annual general meeting which ended in disarray after some members almost went physical.
At the same time, the CJ who is a former chairman of the LSK asked lawyers to protect the reputation of the professional body which he described “as the most important civil society in the country.”