KENYA: Lawyers in Kenya have mounted an unprecedented one-day strike in protest at attempts by the country's top judges to scupper reform of the notoriously corrupt judiciary. Hundreds of lawyers, some wearing black gowns and horsehair wigs, walked out of Nairobi's main court building and marched through the city streets yesterday morning.
They wore yellow ribbons, a symbol of solidarity with the reforms, and carried signs that read: "Why bother hiring a lawyer when you can buy a judge?" The demonstration came as Kenya enters a period of intense political turmoil. The ruler of 24 years, President Daniel arap Moi, is finally preparing to leave office at elections promised for December.
But after years of unquestioned rule, Mr Moi appears to be losing his grip on power. The ruling Kenya African National Unity (KANU) party is in open revolt over Mr Moi's plans to have Mr Uhuru Kenyatta - son of independence hero Jomo Kenyatta - succeed him.
Political violence is rising. Last Monday police shot dead a stone-throwing protester at a Moi rally, and almost every day there are fresh reports of violence from rural areas.A draft new constitution which proposes sweeping political, judicial and social reforms, has struck fear into many Moi acolytes such as cabinet ministers, officials and judges.
Yesterday's march by lawyers was in protest at a court case being brought by two senior judges who are seeking to have all judicial reforms - such as early retirement and an anti-corruption commission - deleted from the new constitution.
"They are trying to capture the \ process and lock it in a cupboard. We are not prepared to tolerate that," said Ms Raychelle Omamo, chairwoman of the Law Society of Kenya.
Successive investigations have suggested that Kenya's judicial system is rife with corruption and incompetence. Last May a panel of judges from the Commonwealth said they were "shocked and dismayed" by the widespread allegations of bribery of judges.
"Public confidence in the independence and impartiality of the Judiciary has virtually collapsed," said the judges from Canada, South Africa, Uganda and Tanzania. Kenya's judges angrily rejected the report but many lawyers agreed. They said many judges were known to be "pliant" and there were even informal "price-lists".
"The judiciary is riddled with corruption. We need the whole thing overhauled," said lawyer Mr Wilfred Thongo, standing outside the Nairobi courthouse yesterday. It was well known, he said, that judges could be bribed for as little as €100 or in exchange for cut-price vehicles or properties.
In the nearby car park, uniformed police officers washed down the latest model silver-and champagne-gold Mercedes issued by the Kenyan government to senior judges. Last week a High Court judge ejected a woman lawyer from court for wearing a yellow ribbon. However by yesterday, Nairobeans ranging from Internet café assistants to court clerkswere also wearing the ribbons.
"The old constitution was designed to safeguard those in power but the new one is for the wanainchi [ordinary people]," said machine worker Mr Joseph Onyona, who wore one.
Since independence in 1963, Kenya's constitution has been amended nearly 40 times, resulting in a massive concentration of power in the presidency. Prof Yash Pal Ghai, head of the Constitution Review Commission, said as a result the country had become an "undemocratic, authoritarian place where one person runs everything. The new constitution will provide a framework for change," he told The Irish Times yesterday.
Prof Ghai published the draft constitution two weeks ago in the face of fierce resistance from establishment figures.