SPEECH - INDUCTION HIGH NEW JUDGES.pdf - The Judiciary

I do not expect the judiciary to be a convent. We must tell Kenyans
what we do and what we cannot do. I believe leaving the church before
the service is over so that you do not create a perception that you are
not independent is ridiculous! You must talk to the congregation. If any
of them has the audacity to talk about their cases in court you simply
tell them it is not done. I believe we will be believed by Kenyans if we
interact with them and let them know that justice is not for sale. I
expect you to give that message to your family, your friends, relatives,
club members and people you meet in schools and places of religious
worship.
We must demystify the “status” of a judge; stop calling courts “ours”
since they are now public courts. We need to exhibit modesty,
humanity, caring, and patience as we hear cases. It will do no harm to
have eye contacts will counsel and the parties. I have been in courts
where our colleagues do not even look at the accused persons in the
dock who may be bloodied up and need to be taken to hospitals!
The role of JTI
JTI must become our judicial think-tank, an institute of excellence, the
nerve centre of robust and patriotic jurisprudence. I know many of you
have great skills and expertise that can benefit JTI, the judiciary and the
country. JTI will map these skills and expertise so that we have internal
direction that can be reinforced by external interventions. I would like
to see JTI host conferencing on critical issues attended by judges and
magistrates where our collective intelligence can benefit the country.
JTI will the institution where both mentorship and peer reviews are
discussed. JTI must own its facilities and gradually become an institute
of higher learning. I salute the vision, drive, commitment of Judge
Kariuki and the invaluable assistance and insights that Judge Mureithi
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