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Mwilu recalls her tenure as acting Chief Justice

Monday, May 24th, 2021 12:36 | By
Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu

Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu on Monday recalled when she took over as Kenya's acting Chief Justice after the retirement of David Maraga in December 2020.

Speaking on Monday when she handed over the instruments of power to the incoming Chief Justice Martha Koome, Lady Justice Mwilu said it was an honour to serve as the leader of the country's third arm of government between December 11, 2020 and May 21, 2021.

"It has been the highest honor of my professional life to serve as the acting Chief Justice of the Republic of Kenya for a period of 162 days. It is a role I took most seriously in order to ensure, preserve, uphold the dignity and respect for the Judiciary and the judicial system and promote fairness independence, competence, and integrity within it," Mwilu said.

Mwilu further thanked his colleagues at the Judiciary for always being there for her when she need counsel.

"I have had an excellent Judiciary leadership whom I consulted on need basis. We have tried to hold the institution of the judiciary together during that period of 162 days," she added.

Mwilu further said she rarely encountered indiciplined staff of the Judiciary during her period as the Acting Chief Justice.

"I'm happy to note that it was on very few occasions was I called upon to remind a few of us to stay on the very straight and narrow line," she recalled.

She added: "I stand here to thank the entire Judiciary family for remembering that they are here to serve the people of Kenya and they did so so well during my tenure as temporary chief justice."

Maraga became the country’s Chief Justice between 2016 - 2021 after he replaced Willy Mutunga who took early retirement.

He secured the job after beating Justices Smokin Wanjala, Alnashir Visram, Roselyne Nambuye, Mbogholi Msagha, the late Senior Counsel Philip Kitonga and outspoken US-based lawyer Prof Makau Mutua.

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