Activist Okiya Omtatah wants the Employment Court to compel President Uhuru Kenyatta to submit the names of the 41 proposed judges to Parliament for vetting. The activist has also faulted the High Court for entertaining the petitions that were taken before it relating to the judges, arguing that it has no jurisdiction to hear such cases. "The disturbing trend where High Court judges decline jurisdiction in all other labour and employment matters, but assume jurisdiction over labour and employment disputes involving fellow judges, simply because it is one of their own, is both unconstitutional and untidy,” Omtatah argued. The High Court has heard and determined two separate matters relating to the appointment of judges and ordered the President to have them sworn in. Omtatah says the High Court acted in vain when it heard and determined the cases and even though the matters are before the Court of Appeal, he believes the High Court was no competent to address the issue.

Source: The Star July 10, 2020 13:18 UTC