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{
    "id": 71627,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/71627/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 103,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. M. Kilonzo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 47,
        "legal_name": "Mutula Kilonzo",
        "slug": "mutula-kilonzo"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, my Ministry shares that concern because going by press reports, one would conclude that parties to litigation in Kenya are beginning to do what is famously known as judge hunting. For the benefit of the House, judge hunting is a practice whereby a party who has a matter pending before a judge thinks that they can manipulate the judges by making allegations against the judge thereby forcing the judge to excuse himself. Judges will normally excuse themselves only in circumstances where they feel that by proceeding to preside over the case, then justice will not be done, particularly if there is a serious belief that the judge either has a conflict of interest or has handled the matter before or for that matter, for any reason that may be advanced. I am hoping that the Judiciary is watching this. The country will not accept a situation where parties and litigants who go before judges are allowed to appear to be hunting for judges. It is my belief that our judges must respect the responsibility of ensuring that they do not step down out of cases just to facilitate a party to get a judge who would be favourable to them. Having said that, I would also like to ask the House to bear in mind that we have a new criteria for vetting and appointing judges. That criteria is awaiting debate by this House. If the House accepts that criteria, it will give further initiative to the Judiciary for being able to withstand the pressure that emerges from the competition in court cases."
}