DEAR MR. CHIEF JUSTICE.

 

Congratulations on your appointment Mr. Chief Justice.

I must commend you for standing tall through the rigorous process. Man, that vetting! I doubt I'd have been able to remain composed all through. Big up though, you made a young nation's people realise that they can actually screen what thy want before they can have it, and that no one really has the right to push things down our throats. I like the fact that u remained adamant and stood for what you believe. It's not easy especially when what you believe may not augur well with everyones' view towards life and society. It's never really about what people believe, right? Lesson well learnt.

Anyway, shows over ma guy. Its down to bi business. I hope the fact that unlike the rest of the leaders in this country, you boast of a piercing. I'm hoping that will make your ear a better listener. We have always talked before, aired our concerns via the media and often got no one to listen to us. Oh, ma bad, they do listen, then literally step us on our toes in sarcasm. So I'm hoping that for starters, you'll pay attention to what I have to say.

The Judiciary in this country, has been more than just a playground for those bigwigs in this country to randomly chastise the common mwananchi. I am sure you know better. I hear they locked you up in Hola some time back. The way they violated your rights, locking you up for attempting to be a champion of change, well, we've had enough of that. I wonder how significant that verse in the Kenyan National anthem relates to you. Justice be our shield and defender. In the past this justice has actually rendered us beggars, we've had or fathers' lands grabbed by prominent leaders, seen our brothers in prison since money exchanged hands under some coffee table in an luxurious hotel somewhere. I mean, we are tired, that the same channels that are meant to advocate for justice and equity are deprive us of the same. I do hope you have the capacity and the will to make judicial corruption a story of the past.

Mr. Chief justice, another bugging issue is derailment of court cases. See, just the other day I was a primary school student and I know of a man who has been in remand since then, finally having to die without even been convicted. They say justice delayed is justice denied, I couldn't say it better. I clearly don't see the point in having somebody spend ages in a legal tussle, being a guest of the state every night whereas his case is not solved. Is there anything we can do to speed up this cases? Even if it means having other judges work in the night shift, just to ensure that justice is served at the appropriate juncture.

Mr. Chief justice, lest you forget, your appointment almost became a dream. The president had already overstepped his mandate and appointed his own choice. Were it not for that 'Solomonic ruling' delivered by the speaker, well, you would still be wallowing in the disappointment of a broken dream. That is the kind of the country we have occasionally been, where even the president at times feels so heroic to overlook the constitution. Mr. Chief justice, one of the main duties of your office will be to make Constitutional interpretations. I have faith in your legal knowledge, and that is going to be quite a difficult task. In this country, it is really hard to convince masses who blindly follow what their politicians say. They will at times make costly statements. However, I do have faith in you, make me proud.

Talking about duties, another quite difficult one will be that of determining presidential election suits. You can imagine if you had to determine who won the 2007 general elections. Expect that to be one of you hardest tasks. Though, here's the silver lining, how you determine this suits may be the twinkle of your career. Besides being the first Chief Justice under the new constitution, you may as well be the first man to send the nation back to the ballot box if the kind of irregularities as seen in 2007 will occur again in future.

Another great failure we have seen in the past is the uneasy relationship between the judiciary and the people they serve. There needs to be a way in which we can make the people feel friendly to the judges and magistrates. Interaction, you know, away from the chambers, with the general public may serve a great deal. Or maybe what you need is conduct an open day, or a forum where people can air their views. That way it really is going to be easy for us to tell you where we think you are going wrong, likewise, to commend you when you carry out your duties in an exemplary performances. The people should be free with the people who serve them, for min you, at the end of the day, we are still your masters.



Finally, in future, when I have to represent my clients in a court of law, can I attend court sessions donning a stud? I'll expect feedback soon.

Until then, laterz ma guy, big up and all the best.
                                                                        Raph