The judiciary has heardthe citizens cry over justice injustice and has decided to take ation in its house to see positive development to try and change their image on the citizens eyes.
In one of it strategies, CJ Maraga is scheduled to chair a National Council for Administration of Justice (NCAJ) meeting next week when “justice sector players as a collective can address the issues hampering the prosecution of anti-corruption cases.”
Among issues itemized in the NCAJ agenda are delays in provision of witness statements by litigants, failure to avail witnesses when needed, and the failure to produce expert witnesses and reports.
Litigants in corruption cases including the public prosecutor have often been faulted for failing to supply statements leading to adjournments that have further slowed down the conclusion of graft cases.
In an apparent cessation of hostilities between the Judiciary and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Friday meeting committed to respecting the mandate of the public prosecutor as provided for in Article 157 of the Constitution.
“The Constitution stipulates that the DPP cannot be directed by any individual including the Courts in playing that role. The Courts are committed to respecting that role and, absent exceptional circumstances; the Courts will not interfere with the discretion of the DPP,” the forum noted.
The judges however cautioned that they will “intervene in exceptional cases where prosecutorial abuse is demonstrated.”
The undertaking is seen as an assurance to DPP Noordin Haji who CJ Maraga openly bashed during a national anti-corruption conference on Friday last week faulting the manner in which his office drafted charge sheets.