Post by
Irulecrap on Sep 27, 2010 3:12pm
Taken from another forum
Don't believe we have much to worry about. Justice Nicholas Ombija doesn't have much credibility.
By Nation Correspondent
Posted Monday, September 13 2010 at 22:00
TheHigh Court resumes sittings in Eldoret this week after lawyers ended afour-month boycott over alleged harassment by a judge.
Thecourt, which is set to start sittings on Thursday, will have to clear abacklog of more than 1,000 cases that were not resolved or were handledin the absence of the parties or lawyers involved.
The lawyers,led by chairman Hillary Chemitei had vowed not to attend the court,accusing Lady Justice Mary Ang’awa of belittling them.
They filed a petition with Chief Justice Evan Gicheru listing their grievances, compelling him to appoint a mediation panel.
“Weappeal to the Chief Justice to take the necessary steps or operationswill be brought to a virtual paralysis,” a statement released by MrChemitei at the height of the impasse said.
The lawyers allegedthat cases, which had been pending before the courts for decades, hadbeen dismissed without litigants’ knowledge, saying this was againstthe rules of natural justice.
The lawyers also called for reforms in the judiciary, saying appointment of judges must be transparent.
Besidesthe Eldoret court, lawyers have also been boycotting Lady JusticeMurugi Mugo’s sittings in Meru and Mr Justice Nicholas Ombija’s inKitale.
Recently, the Judicial Service Commission met the three judges at the Chief Justice’s chambers.
The judges later told journalists that they would not be transferred at the whims of lawyers.