Infortarck:78 per cent support Chief Justice nominees

Majority of Kenyans support the nominations of Willy Mutunga and Nancy Baraza for Chief Justice and Deputy Chief Justice.this accords to a recent Infotrak Research and Consulting opinion poll. According to the firm, 78 per cent of Kenyans support the two judicial nominees.

The poll results released in Nairobi indicated that North- Eastern and Nairobi regions recorded high support for Dr Mutunga at 87 and 83 per cent.

"Central and Coast were the regions with low support for Mutunga at 69, and 72 per cent, as compared to others," Infotrak’s Angela Ambitho said, when releasing the findings of a research carried out between May 23 and 27.

Baraza’s nomination as the Deputy Chief Justice received majority support in Nairobi and North-Eastern regions at 86 and 85 per cent.The results further indicated that Coast and Nyanza had low support for the nomination of Baraza at 74, and 75 per cent.

Satisfaction and confidence

But nearly nine of ten Kenyans who participated in the opinion poll were satisfied the two nominees would reform the Judiciary, if Parliament endorses them.

It was further revealed that 89 per cent of urban dwellers, compared to 87 per cent of rural people, were confident that the two would reform the Judiciary.

Ms Ambitho said the research found out that most Kenyans approve of the two nominees because they believe that Mutunga and Baraza were qualified, competent, have a good track record, and were people of high integrity.

"About 34 per cent of those not satisfied with the nomination of the two, stated controversy around their personalities as their key concerns.

A small percentage (16 per cent) mentioned lack of experience in the Judiciary, and the fact that they may be subject to influence and corruption in the future as their reasons," said the results.

Feeling of Kenyans on the judicial office nomination process

Infotrak further carried out a research on the feelings of Kenyans on the process of nomination for the judicial office holders and majority of the poll participants (44 per cent) said the process was transparent. About 15 per cent of the respondents felt that there was no bias.

But about 89 per cent of the 2,400 respondents felt that all future interviews for public office holders should be done in the view of the public.

"Elimination of corruption is the reason most Kenyans (39 per cent) were of the opinion that all future nominations of public officers should be done in full view of the public," the research findings showed.

The poll respondents argued that interview of public officers in the open would be satisfying and would eliminate doubts the public might have.

But 31 per cent of the interviewees felt that it was intimidating for public officer holders to be interviewed in such a manner.They said that sometimes the interviews got personal and also felt that it should be private and confidential.

Supreme Court judges

And more than half of Kenyans (53 per cent) who took part in the latest Infotrak opinion poll think that most suitable candidates for judges of  the Supreme Court should be outsiders with legal background.

"Only 47 per cent of the respondents felt that the current sitting judges should fill the position of the judges of the Supreme Court," said the research findings.