Supreme Court impasse could have been averted – Kindiki

Senate Majority Leader Kithure Kindiki has expressed his disappointment with the Supreme Court over the ongoing tussle of the tenure of its judges.

Speaking in Murang’a on Saturday, Kindiki said that the challenges facing constitutional institutions were expected and should be handled in an amicable manner.

He noted that the current issues facing the Supreme Court, over the retirement age of its judges could have been resolve through discussions between the judges and their employer, the Judicial Service Commission.

“It is true we have challenges in the country especially at the Supreme Court. The judiciary should be the epitome of order and good procedure and it is therefore disheartening that the current issues in the Supreme Court are being played in the public instead of seeking a resolution within the institution,” he said.

He however expressed optimism that the issue will be resolved to avoid a possible constitutional crisis.

“We must start having faith in our institutions. We have come a long way as a country from when we had weak institutions to where we are now where the Constitution of 2010 creates stable institutions. We should work on strengthening these institutions instead of weakening them.”

Supreme Court Judges Philip Tunoi and Deputy Chief Justice Kalpana Rawal have moved to court to contest the retirement age marked at 70, saying the constitution allows them to serve until they are 74.

The current impasse in the Supreme Court has led to calls for Chief Justice Willy Mutunga to extend his stay in office in a bid to ensure stability in the judiciary.

@benjaminwafula