Court of Appeal Judge Justice Katwa Kigen has told the Judicial Service Commission that his ties with President William Ruto will not affect his judgements if he is appointed to the Supreme Court.
Kigen who appeared before the panel that is seeking to fill a vacancy in Kenya’s apex court was responding to concerns raised by Kenyans on his ability to be impartial given that he has in the past represented Ruto at the International criminal court as well as during the 2022 presidential election petition.
“First, I have indeed represented him. May I say that I intend to be as objective and neutral in the discharge of my function as a judge? Let me give my assurance that I will be fair and that I will only deal with facts and the law,” Kigen said.
Kigen has further termed as unfair the questions on his ability to be impartial based solely on representing Ruto in past cases.
He noted that many judges currently within the judiciary previously served as advocates before joining the bench.
The accomplished lawyer has also floated the possibility of recusing himself from cases where he will be perceived to be biased.
“I am aware there are presidential petitions that have been done with fewer than the totality of 7 Supreme Court judges. The Supreme Court workload is not limited only to presidential petitions.”
He has urged the commission to evaluate him based on his integrity, fairness and commitment to justice, insisting that he would apply the law objectively if appointed to the apex court.
The veteran lawyer who recently joined the court of appeal bench says he has the requisite experience knowledge and experience to sit at Kenya’s uppermost court.
