The National Civil Society Congress (NCSC) has condemned individuals who are reported to have threatened Chief Justice Willy Mutunga over the manner in which he has been reforming the Judiciary.
In a statement, NCSC’s Morris Odhiambo said that Justice Mutunga requires the support of Kenyans to carry out the work of cleaning the Judiciary and any attempts to scuttle what he is doing is detrimental to the good of the country and the good of Kenyans.
Earlier this week, Mutunga revealed that he had faced threats and intimidation in his resolve to reform the Judiciary and fight for justice for all. He however added that he has realized that the challenges have energized him and he would remain in the trench of reforms.
Since Mutunga took office he has vowed to defend and uphold the spirit and letter of the constitution warning leaders who fail to pass the integrity test that they will not be considered in the coming general elections.
While echoing Mutunga’s stand on leadership and integrity, Odhiambo noted that there are those who are hell bent to water down the Leadership and Integrity Bill or delay its publication and eventual enactment.
“These people are hoping that there shall be delay in implementing Chapter Six of the Constitution on Leadership and Integrity,” he added.
On this note, Odhiambo called on Kenyans to resist any moves to delay the implementation of these provisions arguing that in order for the new order to be ushered in properly we must adhere to Chapter Six of the Constitution, which is by far the most important Chapter of the Constitution.
”Kenyans will not accept leaders who are tainted by corruption, human rights abuses, crimes and other ills that will undermine the entrenchment of the new order. As civil society we shall fight to the end to ensure that the integrity chapter is implemented faithfully,” he concluded.
As the head of the Judiciary, Mutunga has managed to undertake numerous reforms in courts evidently being the vetting of judges that witnessed four courts of appeal judges thrown out of the Judiciary after failing the integrity test.
Mutunga has an uphill task of reforming the judiciary that has practiced partial judicial system that delivered justice on the basis of nepotism and corruption rather than respect for the rule of law.
With only a year gone since his appointment as the Judicial head and the magnitude of threats coming in for his refusal to adhere to vested political interest, it remains to be seen how Mutunga will achieve his vision of reforming the Judiciary and whether he will excel where his predecessors failed.
