Senior Counsel Fred Ngatia is blaming a ‘powerful individual’ as having influenced the decision of four JSC Commissioners from Mt Kenya to settle on Lady Justice Martha Koome as next Chief Justice. Speaking on Wednesday, the lawyer said his marks were lowered yesterday afternoon after an intervention by external forces.
“Four commissioners from Mt Kenya region reduced my scores yesterday afternoon after they were called by powerful people. Without that intervention, I was far ahead of all the other candidates,” the lawyer revealed.
Apart from Mr. Ngatia and Ms. Koome, other contestants were Justice Said Chitembwe, Prof Patricia Mbote, Justice Marete Njagi, Senior Counsel Philip Murgor, Justice Nduma Nderi, Justice William Ouko, Dr. Wekesa Moni, and Alice Yano.
According to sources, Fred Ngatia, despite his stellar performance during the selection interviews, he was not tipped to win. This was partly attributed to the Executive and the Legislator being headed by individuals from Mt Kenya. In 2013 and 2017 Mr. Ngatia was President Uhuru Kenyatta’s lead counsel in the presidential petitions.
