All candidates for elective and appointive office should be scrutinised on personal integrity and leadership qualities, Attorney General Githu Muigai told the Supreme Court yesterday.
The AG said any person who has been charged with a criminal offence but discharged on technicalities must be held to account.
Prof Muigai said the August 8 General Election provides a crucial test for Kenyans who have openly expressed genuine concerns about the eligibility of some of the candidates cleared to contest in the polls.
The AG has supported the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, through MMC Africa Law, which has petitioned the Supreme Court for an advisory opinion on integrity and leadership in governance.
The state agency, represented by lawyers Nani Mungai and Daniel Musyoka, says persons of questionable integrity should be barred from elections or be appointed to public office.
Some people lining up for election after the shambolic nominations by political parties have been found by legally established institutions to have been involved in gross misconduct and abuse of office, KNCHR says in court papers.