The Judges and Magistrates Vetting Board is a board established by the Government of Kenya as a result of the Vetting of Judges and Magistrates Act, 2011, which was passed by parliament to create the necessary institutional framework and guidelines for the vetting of judges and magistrates.
Contents
Objectives
The board was set up to vet the suitability of all judges and magistrates, in office prior to the promulgation of the new constitution of Kenya, to continue to serving in accordance with the values and principles set out in Article 10 and 159 of the new constitution.
Board Membership
The board membership consists of the following:
Procedure
The board issued regulation that would govern its processes which indicated that information the board receives would be confidential and only used for the intended purpose. The vetting was to be done in private.
Determinations
The following are the determinations that the board has made, several of which are still subject to appeal the board and within the courts:
First determination
On 25 April 2012, the board issued determinations concerning the judges of the court of appeal. The board found four senior judges unsuitable to continue in office and cleared five other judges.
The Judges found unsuitable were:
The board cleared the following judges:
Second determination
On 20 July 2012, the board announced determination on determinations concerning former judges of the high court who are now members of the supreme court and determinations concerning former judges of the high court who are now members of the court of appeal.
Those declared unfit to serve were:
The board cleared the following judges:
The board deferred its decision on the conduct of Appellate judges Kalpana Hasmukhrai Rawal, Martha Karambu Koome and David Kenani Maraga, who were hearing a case to determine on the date on the elections. The board also upheld its earlier ruling on Court of Appeal judges Riaga Omollo, Emmanuel O’kubasu, Samuel Bosire and Joseph Nyamu.
Third determination
The board announced determinations concerning the judges of the high court on 3 August 2012.
Those declared unfit to serve were:
The board cleared the following judges:
Fourth determination
The board's fourth announcement on 21 September 2012 covered both determinations on suitability and requests for review.
Those declared unfit to serve were:
The board cleared the following judges:
The board also ruled that Supreme Court judge Mohammed Ibrahim and Roselyn Naliaka Nambuye would be vetted afresh setting aside its earlier decision. The verdict that Lady Justice Jeanne Wanjiku Gacheche was unsuitable to serve was upheld.
Fifth determination
The board issued a determination on 21 December 2012.
Those declared unfit to serve were:
The board cleared the following judges:
Sixth determination
On 15 January 2013, the board cleared the following judges after fresh vetting:
The following High Court judges were declared unfit to serve in the judiciary:
Lady Justice Mary Kasango of the High Court was found fit to serve.
Legal challenges
The Centre for Human Rights and Democracy, a human rights lobby, went to court to stop the vetting of Supreme Court judge Mohammed Ibrahim and Court of Appeal Judge Roselyn Nambuye.