Chebukati Has The Right To Become Chief Justice, Mudavadi Says
The Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs CS, Musalia Mudavadi, has criticized opposition leader Raila Odinga for asserting that President William Ruto plans to appoint former IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati as the Chief Justice.
Addressing a church gathering in Kakamega that was also attended by Ruto, Mudavadi expressed the view that every qualified individual possesses the right to contest any position within Kenya.
“The Judicial Service Commission is independent, and it has the right to recruit anybody who qualifies to be a judge of this republic. So it’s wrong for the Azimio leadership to start determining who should the JSC recruit,” Mudavadi said.
He continued by stating that Chebukati has the potential to become the Chief Justice of Kenya if he fulfills the required qualifications.
“Kama ni Chebukati ama nani, if he puts his bid for the position of a judge, that is the responsibility of the JSC, not the responsibility of politicians to try and direct JSC,” he added.
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A day later, Raila Odinga, the leader of the Azimio coalition, expressed suspicions about a strategy to appoint Chebukati as a Court of Appeal judge and subsequently nominate him for the Chief Justice position in preparation for the 2027 elections.
Raila asserted that he became aware of this plan following the recent gathering at State House, where the Executive, led by President Ruto, met with the Judiciary, headed by Chief Justice Martha Koome.
Raila stated that the gathering was just a component of Ruto’s broader strategy to establish an amicable relationship with the Judiciary.
He additionally mentioned that Chebukati and his predecessor, Ahmed Issack Hassan, would initially be appointed as judges in the Court of Appeal. Subsequently, Chebukati would then be elevated to the position of Chief Justice.
“In that (State House meeting) agreement, the five High Court Judges and two Court of Appeal Judges will be for Ruto to forward to the JSC,” Raila claimed.
Chebukati Has The Right To Become Chief Justice, Mudavadi Says