Chief Justice now fast-tracks hearing of Rawal case to Thursday

Chief Justice Willy Mutunga's decision comes hours after a former LSK CEO filed a petition to have Justice Njoki Ndung'u removed for her orders to stay the Court of Appeal ruling which upheld that all judges should retire at 70. PHOTO | FILE 

By SANDRA CHAO-BLASTO, schao@ke.nationmedia.com

In Summary

• Dr Willy Mutunga in his decision noted that the application was urgent and had generated a lot of public interest so it was only fair to have the hearing expedited.
• The parties are expected to appear before the registrar tomorrow for directions in anticipation of the inter-parties hearing before a 5 judge bench on Thursday.
• Former LSK chief executive Apollo Mboya filed a petition to institute proceedings to remove Supreme Court Judge Njoki Ndung'u for her orders to stay a ruling which upheld that all judges should retire at the age of 70 years.

Chief Justice (CJ) Dr Willy Mutunga has invoked his power as the President of the Supreme Court by fast-tracking the hearing of a case filed by Deputy Chief Justice Kalpana Rawal over the retirement age of judges.

The case, which was initially to be heard on Friday June 24, will now be heard on June 2 at the highest court of the land before a five judge bench.

READ: Supreme Court grants Rawal temporary reprieve in retirement case

Dr Mutunga in his decision noted that the application was urgent and had generated a lot of public interest, saying it was only fair to have the hearing expedited.

“I hereby invoke my administrative powers as the chief justice and the president of the Supreme Court to fast track the hearing of the application,” he said on Monday.

The parties are expected to appear before the registrar tomorrow for directions in anticipation of the inter-parties hearing before a five-judge bench on Thursday.

The new directions by the CJ come just hours after former LSK chief executive Apollo Mboya filed a petition to institute proceedings to have Supreme Court Judge Njoki Ndung'u removed for her orders to stay last week's Appellate Court ruling which upheld that all judges should retire at the age of 70.