Kenya MP asks all Supreme Court judges to resign News
Kenya MP asks all Supreme Court judges to resign

[JURIST] A Kenyan member of parliament (MP) on Friday evening called for all judges of the Kenyan Supreme Court [official website] to resign after it was recommended that a tribunal investigate Justice Philip Tunoi for allegedly accepting a Sh200 million bribe. MP Olago Aluoch of Kisumu West said [Daily Nation report] the recommendations by the Judicial Service Special Committee had “confirmed confidence crises within the Judiciary.” The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) on Friday afternoon made the recommendation to President Uhuru Kenyatta [BBC profile] to form a tribunal to investigate Tunoi. Chief Justice Willy Mutunga stated that the JSC received a report investigating bribery allegations against Tunoi, and concluded that
“inappropriate interaction and communication” occurred between Tunoi and an agent of a litigant in a matter that was pending before the Supreme Court. On Sunday Tunoi turned down [Standard Media report] all calls for him to resign from the bench.

Kenya has been the target of international criticisms regarding corruption and other illegal activity over recent years. The International Criminal Court’s (ICC) investigation and prosecution of the Kenya Situation [ICC backgrounder] has been ongoing since 2010. Last month Kenyan Deputy President William Ruto appeared [JURIST report] before the ICC to argue for the dismissal of the charges of crimes against humanity filed against him and his co-defendant, broadcaster Joshua Sang. In March the ICC withdrew its charges [JURIST report] against Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, who was accused of crimes against humanity for post-election violence, but indicated it would renew the charges if presented with enough evidence. In regards to corruption, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta said [JURIST report] in November that corruption is a “standing threat to our national security.” Noting that “the bribe accepted by an official can lead to successful terrorist attacks that kill Kenyans,” Kenyatta said that the fight against corruption must be met with a “multifaceted” approach.