THE longer judges and magistrates serve, the more vulnerable they become to manipulation, Kiharu MP Irungu Kang’ata has said.
Speaking at Gaturi in his constituency on Tuesday, he urged the state to review the adjudicators regularly to stop corruption.
“As politicians, we are subjected to an assessment every five
years,” Kang’ata said.
"The same should apply to judges to keep them in line."
Kang’ata, a lawyer, said the allegations made
against Supreme Court judge Philip Tunoi justify the need for assessment.
Tunoi was accused on January 24
of receiving a Sh200 million bribe to rule in favour of Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero in the 2014 petition against his election by Ferdinand Waititu.
“If indeed there was a misdeed on the part of Justice Tunoi,
we as lawyers feel it is wrong for him to have done what he is purported to
have done,” Kang’ata said.
The MP said judges enjoy "monolithic power", making decisions with major repercussions
as individuals or in a small group.
This makes them easy to influence, he said.
The MP called for a radical audit
of some of the judgments delivered by the High Court.
Kang’ata cited the ruling that allowed gays to register organisations and
the one declared the CDF unconstitutional.
The legislator also cited the suspension of the 10,000km national tarmacking programme.
“These rulings appear not to be founded on good legal
grounds and should be reviewed,” he said.
