Retired Justice, Aaron Ringera, was interviewed yesterday by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) for the Chief Justice Job. The former anti-graft chief had previously been cut out of the Chief Justice shortlist due to the 2003 Judiciary purge ‘radical surgery which saw 23 judges sacked without a hearing.
However, he was added back to the interview list when Justice George Odunga, of the high court, prohibited them from making recommendations to the president and rejected the advertisement short listing candidates for the CJ position and directed that the interviews should only be held when the JSC reconsiders applicants who were left out of the list but qualified for the position. Odunga also prohibited them from making recommendations to the president.
Among the judges who were left out of the shortlist included, Hon. Prof Justice Andrew Kongani, Justice David Waisiko, David Mwaure, Jackton Ojwang, and Lucy Wanja Julius.
Ringera, who also acted as a Solicitor General under President Daniel Arap Moi, was hard pressed to explain the “radical surgery” and his past relationships with the government.
Ringera said that he feels no remorse whatsoever over his actions in 2003 noting that the only regret he has is on the publication of names of judges, magistrate noting that they were not given a fair hearing before their dismissal.
He further defends himself saying that the Integrity and Anti-corruption committee of the Judiciary, which he was heading, acted based on the law that applied that time and that given a chance to head the judiciary, he will lead differently basesd on the law.
Ringera made a public apology to the judges and magistrates who were victims of the 2003 radical surgery.
He stated that his key task if appointed would be to win back the trust of judicial officials.
Today Ambassador Daniel Waisiko Wambura appeared before the interview panel, On Thursday Mr.David Mwaure Waihiga and later, on MondayJudge Jackton Boma Ojwang’.
