Members of the public have been invited to submit written submissions on the suitability of two Judicial Service Commission nominees ahead of the vetting.
National Assembly’s Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs is set to conduct an approval hearing for Isaac Rutto and Caroline Nzilani, both nominated by President William Ruto two weeks ago.
In a notice, the nominees are set to appear before the committee on May 25.
“In compliance with the Constitution and section 118(I) (b) of the Constitution and section 6 (9) of the public appointments (parliamentary approval) Act 2100, the departmental committee on justice and legal affairs hereby invites members of the public to submit any representations they may have, by way of written statements on oath (affidavits) with supporting evidence contesting suitability of the nominees for appointment as members of the judicial service commission,” a notice by Clerk Samuel Njoroge reads.
The memoranda, it adds, may be forwarded or hand-delivered to the office of the clerk on or before May 24.
The nominees are required to present original academic documents including other testimonials on the vetting day.
The nomination of the two by President Ruto was communicated by Speaker Moses Wetangula on the floor of the House on May 3.
"Pursuant to the provisions of Standing Orders 42, I wish to convey a message from President William Ruto, in which he has nominated persons to the Judicial Service Commission," he said.
"In the message, the President conveyed that in the exercise of the powers conferred on him by Article 128 of the Constitution and Sections 3 & 5 of the Public Appointment Act, 2011, he presented the list of nominees.”
JSC is an independent commission established under the Constitution of Kenya.
Its main function is to promote and facilitate the independence and accountability of the Judiciary in Kenya.
The commission is responsible for the appointment, promotion, and removal of judges and magistrates in Kenya.
It is composed of 11 members including the Chief Justice, who serves as the chairperson.
The President appoints four members subject to approval by Parliament, the Public Service Commission (1), LSK (1), Parliamentary Service Commission (1) and Attorney General are among the other members of the commission.