By Wendy Mangale
The Judiciary will defend the fairness and integrity of the electoral process by enforcing electoral standards and norms outlined in the Constitution and electoral laws.
Chief Justice Martha Koome said the Judiciary was ready to deal with all the disputes that will arise from the General Election impartially and dispassionately. ‘’Whatever problems they (politicians) bring to our courts, we reduce them into constitutional and legal issues, ” Ms. Koome said during a Kenya Editors’ Guild Press Club Luncheon held on February 15 at the Panafric Hotel.
The Press Club Luncheon was held under the theme “Towards Free and Fair Elections—Efficiency and Accountability in the Judiciary.”
Ms. Koome announced that the Judiciary was developing a curriculum to train journalists on court reporting to allow the public to understand some of the abstract issues involved.
She encouraged partnership between the media and the Judiciary in promoting good governance and social justice for the benefit of Kenyans.
She said the National Multi-Sectoral Consultative Forum, comprising of the Judiciary, Ministry of Interior, IEBC, and National Cohesion and Integration Commission, had drafted recommendations to ensure that the election is devoid of hate speech, intimidation and violence.
Linus Kaikai, a member of the Kenya Editors’ Guild, said most electoral disputes are caused by tallying and transmission of election results. He called upon the Judiciary to provide justice to petitioners and ensure free, fair, credible, and verifiable elections.
Kenya Editors’ Guild President Churchill Otieno said journalists were hard at work to find innovative ways to deliver fairness and objectivity in their reporting of the General Election.
Supreme Court judge, Justice Isaac Lenaola, called for the revival of the Court Reporters Association, which, in partnership with the Judicial Training Institute, can co-ordinate training of reporters on court reporting.
