Body sacks three judges as vetting enters third phase

The Judges and Magistrates Vetting Board on Tuesday sacked three judges and cleared 23 others as the vetting exercise enters its third phase on Wednesday.

The judges who were sacked include Teresia Ngugi, Bildad Ochieng and Lily Nafula.

Speaking while releasing the results at Masada Hotel in Naivasha, board chairman Sharad Rao said the exercise would conclude after 15 more magistrates who served before the promulgation of the new Constitution in 2010 are vetted.

He expressed optimism that the board’s assignment would be concluded by March 31, 2015.

Early last month, the Judges and Magistrates Vetting Board had dismissed eight magistrates and retained 28 after a two-month vetting process.

Rao had stated that those found unsuitable had integrity issues that mainly touched on financial impropriety.

“The board made scrutiny of the magistrates’ bank accounts before appearing for the vetting and there were some numbers that did not add up,” said Rao.

The dropped judicial officers were serving in Moyale, Marsabit, Mandera, Turkana, Wajir and Garissa.