President William Ruto has cautioned the newly-appointed High Court judges against being partisan as they took the oath of office on Wednesday December 7.
The president sounded the warning when he presided over the swearing-in ceremony of the judges at State House, Nairobi.
Dr. Ruto echoed the judges’ oaths of office in which they swore to be impartial in their service.
“I listened carefully as you took the office and you swore in the name of the Almighty God. As you write those judgements, as you consider those issues, remember that you swore in the name of God. Remember that you also swore to serve the people of Kenya diligently,” Ruto told the 20 judges.
“You have also told us that you will also be impartial and will not be influenced by ethnicity, or religion, and that fear or prejudice will not lace your judgements. That you will not succumb to intimidation, fear or threats from any corner,” added the president.
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Furthermore, the Head of State implored the judges to always uphold the constitution, saying; “You have told us that in the exercise of your judicial functions you will always administer, defend, and protect the constitution of Kenya. Remember that because that is the basis upon which we are established as a nation.”
In addition, he asked them to uphold the dignity of the judiciary and promote fairness, independence, competence, and integrity of the judicial arm of government, terming it a personal responsibility of each of the judges.
Nevertheless, Chief Justice Martha Koome in a notice on Thursday, December 1, noted that JSC had formulated the list of judges following a thorough vetting exercise for the position as advertised on March 13, 2022.
