Judicial corruption in Kenya frustrating investors - MP Farah Maalim
Unethical practices and pervasive corruption have left the Judiciary compromised, the MP says.
A corrupt Judiciary in Kenya is causing apprehension among most investors, leading to a cautious approach in engaging with the country, Daadab Member of Parliament (MP) Farah Maalim alleges.
Farah claimed on Wednesday that unethical practices and pervasive corruption have left the Judiciary compromised and are frustrating investors seeking resolution of problems through Kenya's courts.
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In an interview on Citizen TV, he cited prolonged court cases and inflated legal fees demanded by lawyers, saying they have pushed pending bills to billions of shillings.
Farah further criticised both the Judiciary and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), saying they have not taken a firm stance on the matter yet their reputations are being tarnished.
He also accused the Judiciary of overstepping by interfering with the functions of other branches of the government and independent institutions. The parliamentarian noted that the Judiciary's role should be limited to reviewing and ruling on proposals presented before the courts. The body should not obstruct parliamentary processes, he said.
Farah's comments were on the backdrop of President William Ruto's criticism of the Judiciary and a pledge to get rid of corrupt officers whom he believes are impeding his government's initiatives, such as Universal Health Coverage and affordable housing.
He attributed setbacks in these projects to bribery to influence court decisions and vowed to combat judicial impunity by corrupt officers.
A statement from Ruto's office last week noted that since the beginning of his presidency, deliberate steps have been taken to rectify past injustices, with the appointment of judicial officers who were unjustly denied their rightful positions due to Executive impunity.
The president's comments drew sharp criticism from parties including Chief Justice Martha Koome, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), LSK chair Eric Theuri, the Kenya Magistrates and Judges Association and Azimio coalition leader Raila Odinga.
The JSC has challenged President Ruto to provide evidence of the alleged corruption while the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) has called for a probe into the claims and urged people displeased with court rulings to use the right channels to pursue their concerns.
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