The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has cleared lawyer Tom Ojienda to seek re-election for a powerful Judicial Service Commission (JSC) seat after a bitter and protracted dispute with the taxman.
Prof Ojienda will now face off with former chairman of the Independent Policing Oversight Authority Macharia Njeru, Mr Alex Gatundu, Mr Gathii Irungu and Mr Charles Mongare.
On February 11, LSK said it will announce the election date after it consults with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, the agency authorised to conduct the poll.
Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) refused to issue Mr Ojienda with tax clearance, a decision the lawyer told the High Court was calculated to sabotage his bid to be voted as the lawyer’s male representative in JSC.
But KRA claimed that the lawyer owes Sh443.6 million tax arrears.
After High Court Judge Wilfrida Okwany last December directed KRA to issue Mr Ojienda with the clearance certificate or in the alternative, LSK to accept his nomination papers without the tax certificate, the taxman appealed the ruling.
Court of Appeal Judges Martha Koome, Anne Murgor and Sankale ole Kantai stated in their unanimous ruling that KRA “has satisfied the principles upon which an application of this nature is granted”.