Judges rejected by Uhuru demand for apology, compensation

By Peter Ochieng

Six judges whose promotion was rejected by retired president Uhuru Kenyatta are black in the public limelight.

Between July and August, 2019, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) recommended for the appointment of the six as judges of the court of appeal, and environment and lands court, but Kenyatta declined, stating that they had intergrity issues to contend with.

JSC wanted Aggrey Muchelule, Joel Ngugi, Weldon Korir and George Odunga appointed as judges of the court of appeal.

Evans Makori and Judy Omange were poised for position of judges of the environment and lands court.

That was not to be as Uhuru rejected them, only stating that he had intelligence which confirmed to him that they were not fit to serve as judges.

They were however appointed in September 2022, when William Ruto succeeded Uhuru Kenyatta.

The six judges are demanding for a public apology and compensation, for humiliation and public ridicule they faced when their appointments were rejected.

They have petitioned the high court, through their lawyer Elisha Ongoya.

"We suffered public humiliation because of insinuations created by Uhuru and other public officials to the effect that we were collectively persons not fit to hold the offices of judges in Kenya,” they say in the petition.

“We have suffered loss and damage as a result of the public humiliation and been subjected to uncertainty."

They want the office of the president to apologise and publicly declare that they are fit to hold office, and not the contrary as held by Kenyatta during his time in office.

Concerning compensation, court of appeal judges are demanding for Sh15 million in damages, while the environment and lands court judges, are seeking for a total of Sh7.7 million.