Top judges defend conviction rate of corruption cases

Top judges on Friday defended the Judiciary’s corruption conviction rate in the wake of increased accusations that the arm of government has become an impediment in the war against graft.

President Uhuru Kenyatta, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji and Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) George Kinoti are all on record criticizing judges for releasing suspects on ridiculously low bail terms, standing in the way of justice and issuing strange court orders that make it harder to prosecute suspects.

Maraga for the better part of the morning met top judges at the Milimani Law Courts after which the judges addressed the media and defended themselves from the accusations which have threatened to portray the courts as toothless in the fight against theft and plunder of public funds.

Speaking after the meeting, the judges made a passionate defence of their role in the fight against sleaze saying that they had convicted 46 suspects days after CJ Maraga claimed that corruption cases are collapsing due to lack of watertight evidence against suspects.

Court of Appeal President William Ouko however recognised that more needs to be done saying that the Judiciary has posted 10 more judges to the Anti-Corruption Court in a bid to expedite the cases.

READ:DESPITE WAR ON GRAFT, KENYA WAS MORE CORRUPT IN 2018

“Between July 2017 and December 2018, a total of 91 corruption cases were determined with 46 leading to convictions,” said the judges.

Speaking during the Anti Corruption Summit at the Bomas of Kenya a week ago, Maraga remained defiant saying that the Judiciary will only convict guilty persons.

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“We will not send any innocent man to jail. If there is no concrete evidence, we will acquit the suspect.” said Maraga.