Six judges who former President Uhuru Kenyatta declined to appoint have been awarded Ksh126 million.
The High Court has awarded them the cash for violation of their rights.
They include Court of Appeal judges Korir Weldon Kipyegon, Muchelule Aggrey Otsyula, Odunga George Vincent and Prof. Joel Mwaura Ngugi.
On the other hand, two environment court judges, Makori Evans Kiago and Cheruiyot Omange Judith Elizabeth are among them.
The six judicial officers led by Justice Aggrey Muchelule, filed a case in 2023, saying that they were never issued with an explanation for the rejection of their appointment.
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Why Uhuru Rejected the Nomination of the Judges
Uhuru rejected the nomination of the six who sat on a bench that declared the push to amend the Constitution through the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) unconstitutional.
However, they argued that they suffered public humiliation and wanted the office of the President ordered to offer a public apology and clear their names of allegations of being unfit to hold office.
At the time, they demanded Ksh23 million.
“We suffered public humiliation because of the insinuations created by Uhuru Kenyatta and other public officials to the effect that we were collectively persons not fit to hold the offices of judges in Kenya,” they argued in court documents.
Also Read: Judiciary Responds to Complaints by Kenyans Touching on Conduct of Judges
Ruto Finally Appoints them Finally
While Justice Maraga declared that the former President was out of order for disobeying two court orders to appoint the judges, Uhuru maintained that he would not be coerced to appoint any judge.
“As long as I serve as President, I will choose the right over the convenient; I will choose the hard over the easy, and I am not doing this for myself, but for the people of Kenya and for posterity,” he said while swearing in the appointed judges.
Moreover, during celebrations to mark the 58th Madaraka Day, Uhuru accused some judges of derailing his work and going against the will of the people.
Despite the grievances of the judges, they were eventually appointed by President William Ruto in September 2022, after taking over office.
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