Chief Justice David Maraga has said that all judges and magistrates will be required to subscribe to the new Judicial Code of Conduct and Ethics once it’s approved by parliament.

Maraga, who was speaking on Monday at the Supreme Sourt when he presided over the induction of 47 newly recruited magistrates said the code aims to foster independence, impartiality, professionalism and objectivity in the discharge of duties by all judicial officers.

” It tells you what you can and cannot do on social media, and prohibits the use of your office for unlawful enrichment, acceptance of loans and gifts by you or your family that are inconsistent with judicial office or likely to be perceived as intended to influence you,” Maraga said.

The code prohibits private communication or correspondence between magistrates and litigants and involvement in business or activities that may result in a conflict of interest.

WAR AGAINST CORRUPTION

Maraga further cautioned judicial officers against engaging in corruption and said  offenders will be prosecuted.

“I must emphasise that the Judiciary does not entertain or condone corruption within its ranks. You are well aware of the current war against corruption. As a judiciary, we cannot be presiding over corruption cases while abetting corruption within our corridors,” he said.

PREPARE ADEQUATELY TO REDUCE  CASE BACKLOG

Maraga also blamed the worrying backlog of cases in the courts on ill-prepared judiciary officers, saying lack of preparation occasions endless adjournments.

“…endless adjournments of cases on frivolous grounds are the very reasons that we have cases that stay in our courts for years on end. The public are fed up with us on this. We cannot afford to have this continue,” He said.