The Kenya Judges and Magistrates
Association has come out to fight off claims that they are an impediment in the Government’s war on Graft .
In a press briefing this afternoon at the Milimani law Courts,the KMJA Secretary General Derrick Kuto told off the executive for it’s continued attacks on Individual Judges and Magistrates.
“We deny claims that we are the biggest obstacle against the war on Corruption.”he stated.
Kuto who was accompanied by Magistrate’s Charity Oluoch, Evelyn Olwande and Muktar Billow vowed to uphold the rule of law.
He added that there was a wrong narrative bieng peddled by the State that Judicial officers that are the biggest obstacle in the war against corruption.
He exonerated Judicial Officers from blame saying that they decide cases purely on the basis of evidence placed before them and the applicable law.
“We decide cases purely on the basis of evidence placed before us.All suspects are presumed innocent until proven giulty and no-one should be condemned unheard. Where there has been evidence ,the Court have convicted accordingly and theirbis evidence to this effect,he explained.
He pointed out that bond is a constitutional right of every Kenyans and that they are not ready to be taken back to the old days of repression.
“Bond is a constitutional right for every Kenyan.This is ofcourse a complete departure from the infamous 1980’s and early 1990’s when bond was percieved to be at the behest of the State. Certainly Kenyans are not ready to be taken back to those days “he said.
KMJA insisted that the War on graft will not be won by chest thumping and mud-slinging but by by understanding Kenya’s Constitutional frame work.
Kuto dismissed claims that judicial officers having been letting off corruption suspects and terrorists lightly.
Kuto who was accompanied by expressed concerned on the sustained public attacks and directives against the Judiciary. Especially on individual Judges and Magistrate.
“We are here to express KMJA’s concerns about the sustained , ill-advised public attacks and directives against the Judiciary as well as individual Judges and Magistrate’s “,he said.
Kuto dismissed claims that judicial officers having been letting off corruption suspects and terrorists
