House Committee endorses Justice Mwilu for Deputy CJ post

Dennis Tarus

October 27, 2016 12:09 PM

The National Assembly’s Justice and Legal Affairs Committee have endorsed Judge Philomena Mwilu to be Kenya’s next Deputy Chief Justice.

Her name will now be forwarded to President Uhuru Kenyatta who will present it to the National Assembly should he approve.

If appointed, Mwilu will succeed Justice Kalpana Rawal who retired earlier this year and become the Supreme Court’s Vice President, deputising newly appointed Chief Justice David Maraga.

Justice Mwilu beat a crowded field of 15 other candidates to emerge as the Judicial Service Commission’s best pick.

She stirred controversy following her stand on the rights of gay people saying that they were protected under the constitution though same sex marriages are outlawed.

Justice Mwilu also had to fight off a petition challenging her suitability for the appointment.

Kandara MP Alice Wahome had filed a petition with the Justice and Legal Affairs committee, claiming that the judge was incompetent and corrupt.

Justice Mwilu refuted the claims and said the MP was engaging in a witch hunt against her.

Credentials

Justice Philomena Mbete Mwilu graduated from the University of Nairobi and was admitted as an advocate of the High Court of Kenya in 1984.

She practised law in the firms of Muthoga Gaturu & Company and later Mutunga & Company Advocates. She worked as company secretary and headed a state corporation before being appointed as Judge of the High Court in 2007.

Lady Justice Mwilu also served in the Commercial Division in Nairobi, at the Eldoret High Court and the Civil Appeals sub-division of the High Court, the murder section of the Criminal Division and later headed the Environment and Land Division of the High Court.

Dennis Tarus