Five foreign judges have arrived in the country ahead of the presidential election petition hearing at the Supreme Court scheduled to kick off today at 11 am
The judges drawn from Africa Judges and Jurists Forum (AJJF) flew into the country to closely follow the hearing and determination of the petition by Azimio-One Kenya presidential candidate Raila Odinga and seven others challenging the electoral commission’s decision to declare William Ruto as the President-Elect
A press statement said the high-level panel of Eminent African Jurists came to the country as trial observers of justice having been commended by AJJF.
The 2022 Trial Observation Mission is headed by the Chief Justice (Rtd) Mohammed Chande Othman, of Tanzania.
Other delegation members include Lady Justice Lillian Tibatemwa-Ekirikubinza of the Supreme Court of Uganda, Lady Justice Ivy Kamanga from Supreme Court of Appeal of Malawi, Justice Moses Chinhengo from Court of Appeal, Lesotho and Justice Henry Boissie Mbha, President Electoral Court of South Africa.
“The eminent jurists will attend all Supreme Court hearings, monitor and document the presidential election petition based on international human rights standards of a fair trial,” the press statement read in part.
The judges are also expected to monitor independence of Kenya’s Judiciary in examining the electoral disputes and review the socio-political climate in the run-up to the Petition.
The five will at the end of the trial make their observations and develop a comprehensive report aiming at contributing to a more professional, independent, impartial, and accountable Judiciary, a more independent legal profession, and better adherence to the rule of law and international legal standards concerning the resolution of electoral disputes.
They are expected to have bilateral meetings before the hearings with the Parties to the Petition, including IEBC,ODPP and the Attorney General. The judgment will be rendered on September 5 and the Judge’s decision is final.
