While momentum is increasing for Twalib Mbarak supposed to replace EACC CEO Halakhe Waqo and brace up the war against graft in Kenya so that its a disease feared by those who take leadership seats, the judiciary has been taking hits over the fall-out of cases presented to them for prosecution.
Chief Justice David Maraga yesterday defended the Judiciary from accusations of slowing down the fight against corruption by releasing suspects on low bail terms.
Responding to claims by President Uhuru Kenyatta that the Judiciary was directly to blame for delaying justice for Kenyans, Maraga said poorly investigated cases with half-baked evidence were the cause most graft-related charges were dropped.
During Jamhuri Day celebrations, Uhuru lambasted the Judiciary, decrying the courts’ issuance of “ridiculously low” bail terms to suspects charged with corruption.
“Kenyan spirits are dampened when we witness suspects released on ridiculously low bail terms, interference in legislative processes, and the use of the court process to delay justice,” said the President.
In another incident, just days after the start of a landmark case against the first batch of suspects accused of stealing more than Sh460 million from the National Youth Service (NYS) Uhuru touched on the judiciary and how they are handling graft cases
“We’ve seen several prosecutions of corruption cases and you will see even more in the coming days, but we need the Judiciary to step up and turn these prosecutions into convictions,” said Uhuru during a breakfast meeting with the private sector and bilateral partners at State House, Nairobi.
Instead, the CJ has passed the buck to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions(ODPP) for the challenges courts were facing in dealing with some cases especially those connected to corruption.
Speaking to journalists after leading his Central SDA Church members’ prayers meeting for Kamiti Maximum Prison inmates at the facility, Maraga said courts have had difficult times dealing with cases where the DPP presents suspects before court without water tight evidence.
He said with weak evidence to enable judges or magistrates handling such cases to make far-reaching judgements, courts had no option but to grant bail.
Do agree that that weak evidences are obstructing justice to take place in graft wars?