Social media users have condemned Senate majority leader Kipchumba Murkomen for calling out Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji over his appointment of Queens Counsel Khawar Qureshi.
Qureshi is in the lead prosecutor in Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu’s abuse of office case.
His appointment has been met with a lot of criticism from other lawyers. Mwilu’s lawyer, James Orengo told a five judge bench that the foreign lawyer lacked a certificate of admission and had no jurisdiction in challenging Mwilu’s prosecution at the High court.
According to the Elgeyo Marakwet senator, Haji’s appointment only showed how much he mistrusted Kenyan lawyers.
“If the DPP mistrusts all Kenyan Lawyers, he should just have led by example and prosecute the case himself,” Murkomen said, adding, “The idea of getting a foreign advocate to prosecute domestic cases just before our Independence Day is totally misguided.”
Murkomen’s sentiments were challenged by Kenyans online who noted that there are already too many foreigners in the country and the DPP should be allowed to execute his mandate in peace.
Read: DPP Appoints Foreign Legal Counsel Khawar Qureshi To Lead Prosecution Of Graft Cases
Here are some of the comments:
When ICC lawyer Khan came and treated like a king in Eldoret were you misguided? The choice for foreign prosecutor was thought out and decision made on merit because of perceived partisan politics that Orengo & Okongo have portrayed it to.
— AlGKenya (@jambokeny) December 8, 2018
Hon murkomen let you not politicize this issue.we as Kenyans who bear the pain when our tax is being stolen by some individuals do support DPP Hajji to do whatever it takes for him to bring this Kenya to a sober mood
— Gordon Kibore (@GordonKibore) December 8, 2018
Let the DPP do his work why you following him up and down he is trying to fight corruption and you are against that
— K-BIG (@Kbig_kenya) December 8, 2018
I see nothing wrong with that as long as he gets a work permit. Did you know that your fellow senator @susankihika was a prosecutor in the USA?
— Zuri (@khalayiw) December 8, 2018
You are offside and completely misguided!! You're same person who refused to vote for adoption of Ruaraka Land Report and Solai Dam Report? Give us a break! Which case have you followed thru to material end in public interest?
— Tim Gitonga (@Tim_Gitonga) December 8, 2018
On Friday, Attorney General Paul Kihara allowed Qureshi to practice as an advocate in Kenya but should only focus on the DCJ case.
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