The newly elected Senate leadership on Monday paid a courtesy call on Chief Justice David Maraga at the Supreme Court building in Nairobi.
Senate Majority Leader Samuel Poghisio and his Majority Chief Whip Irungu Kang’ata counterpart termed the visit as one of their first assignments in their new roles.
CJ Maraga, addressing the press afterwards, said the purpose of the meeting was to explore ways of cooperation between the Senate and the Judiciary.
“They requested to see me this morning, you know they were recently elected into office. It’s just a courtesy call,” said Maraga.
“We have discussed quite a number of matters; how the Judiciary can cooperate and work with the Senate. The two bodies are independent but independence does not mean we work in silos.”
Mr. Poghisio, also the West Pokot Senator, on his part said: “This is actually one of our first assignments. We really wanted to have a moment to visit the head of the Judiciary and also know how we can work together; there are many issues that come to Senate, there are many issues that come here.”
The visit comes after CJ Maraga recently accused Jubilee Party leader and President Uhuru Kenyatta of being responsible for the operational crisis in the Judiciary.
Maraga said this prolonged refusal has created a serious shortage of judges in various courts, so much so that the hearing of some cases may have to be pushed to 2022 due to the backlog.
“It is important to clearly and categorically state that this shortage of judges and the near paralysis of court operations has been caused by the President,” he said in a press address.
“The President has persisted in his refusal despite orders in two cases requiring him to swear in those judges within 14 days.”
The President of the Supreme Court cited the situation at the Environment and Land Court saying the department has only 31 judges countrywide yet as of March 31 this year, it had a backlog of 16, 457 cases.
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