Kenya gets new Chief Justice as Justice Maraga is sworn in

Kenya got its second Chief Justice under the new Constitution following the swearing in of Justice David Kenani Maraga in a function witnessed by President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The function held at State House, Nairobi was attended by diplomats, Cabinet Secretaries, and other government officials.

Maraga’s nomination was approved by the National Assembly Tuesday, October 18 evening paving the way for his swearing in.

After submissions by several MPs, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Justin Muturi, moved the motion on Maraga’s appointment, which was passed unanimously, by MPs from both Jubilee and the opposition Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD).

Maraga was nominated to the CJ position by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), after a week of interviews, to succeed Dr Willy Mutunga who retired in June this year.

His name was then sent to the president who forwarded it to the National Assembly for vetting.

Maraga’s first task will be to swear in a selection panel that will be responsible for vetting new commissioners of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).