This archive report was first published on 3 May 2021.
On May 3, 2021, High Court Judge Said Chitembwe addressed concerns that he would be swayed by external factors in his rulings as a potential Supreme Court Judge.
Speaking to the Judicial Service Commission, Justice Chitembwe emphasized the importance of relying solely on evidence presented to the court when making determinations, citing the handling of presidential election petitions as an example.
"What will be at play will be the documentation presented before the court, not the stories in the newspapers or the opinions of people on television," he said. "I do not think there is room to be influenced by external factors; we will be there to dispense justice and evaluate the case accordingly."
Justice Chitembwe also expressed his reservations about the 2017 presidential election decision, stating that he was still unclear about the reasoning behind the court's nullification of the election.
The position of Supreme Court Judge became vacant following the retirement of Judge Jackton Ojwang in 2020, who reached the mandatory retirement age of 70.
Justice Chitembwe, who was also interviewed for the position of Chief Justice, emphasized the importance of impartiality and adherence to jurisprudence for judges.
"Judges always take an oath to dispense justice, which means we must be impartial and non-partisan," he said.
When asked about his application for both positions, Justice Chitembwe explained that his motivation was to serve Kenyans, driven by his desire to contribute to the country's justice system.
