Just minutes after announcing his retire, the outgoing CJ, Dr. Willy Mutunga was appointed as a Commonwealth Special Envoy to Maldives to aid in bringing the political leadership in the country and assist in the process of constitutional and political transition.
Mutunga was appointed by the Secretary General of the Commonwealth Patricia Scotland, a move that is intended to support a sustainable political dialogue process leading to a stronger climate of pluralism and inclusive elections next year
The CJ did not decline the offer but warned that Kenya’s political leaders risk brining down national gains as they get preoccupied in parochial ethnic and jingoistic politics.
“I have taken this request and note, rather disturbingly that here in my motherland, if the political leadership is not self-restrained, will risk everything we have put in to build this country,” Dr Mutunga said.
“The overarching mandate is to support a sustainable political dialogue process leading to a stronger climate of pluralism and inclusive elections in 2018,”he added.
Supreme Court Judge Mohammed Ibrahim will now take over as President of the Supreme Court pursuant to Section 6 (2) of Supreme Court Act. The Court of Appeal will be overseen by its President, Mr Justice Paul Kihara Kariuki, while the High Court will be under the leadership of Principal Judge Richard Mwongo. The Chief Registrar of the Judiciary, Ms Anne Amadi, remains in charge as accounting officer and chief administrator.