The race for the coveted Judicial Service Commission male representative has taken a new twist with the clearance of Prof Tom Ojienda and Mr Gathii Irungu, a former Kiambu County Assembly Speaker.

Ojienda was facing a clearance standoff where the KRA had refused to issue Mr Ojienda with tax clearance, claiming he owed Sh443.6 million tax arrears.

KRA compliance

KRA appealed a decision by High Court Judge Wilfrida Okwany for it to issue Mr Ojienda with the clearance certificate or, in the alternative, for the LSK to accept his nomination papers without the tax certificate.

After being cleared, Prof Ojienda will face off with the Independent Policing Oversight Authority’s former chair Macharia Njeru, Mr Alex Gatundu, Mr Gathii Irungu and Mr Charles Mongare.

Sabotage

In his defence, the lawyer told the High Court that the move was calculated to sabotage his bid to be re-elected as the JSC representative.

Gichuhi faults decision

A group of lawyers at the LSK had wanted Mr Gichuhi to step aside, on the grounds that he was favouring some specific candidates for the JSC seat.

Last Friday, Mr Gichuhi differed with the decision by the LSK council to clear all five candidates despite an in-house vetting committee disqualifying Prof Ojienda and Mr Irungu, a former Kiambu County Assembly Speaker.

“What happened on Monday was not a vetting exercise at all because you cannot clear candidates, especially one candidate who neither signed the declaration form nor provided health, DCI and KRA clearance [certificates]. That candidate has spoilt the entire process and that is why we must vet them afresh,” Mr Gichuhi said.