Supreme Court cases stall over lack of judges

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In Malindi: Four judges have said operations at the Supreme Court are on standstill for lack of quorum to handle full trials.

Speaking on Friday, Justices Mohamed Ibrahim, Njoki Ndung’u, Smokin Wanjala and Jackton Ojwang’ said they will now handle only urgent applications that can be heard by one or two judges.

Addressing journalists during a-three days’ judicial training at Ocean Beach Resort and Spa in Malindi, Justice Ibrahim, who is the acting president of the Supreme Court Justice said the minimum number of judges who can hear a case is five.

“We hope the vacancies will soon be filled as per the Constitution so that we proceed to full operation,” he said.

Three judges have already retired from the Supreme Court. They are former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, Deputy Chief Justice Kalpana Rawal and Phillip Tunoi.

So far, the Judicial Service Commission has shortlisted six names for the position of Chief Justice. They will be interviewed from August 29 to October 7 this year.