Judge David Maraga nominated Chief Justice

Chief Justice David Maraga. /FILE
Chief Justice David Maraga. /FILE

Judge

David Maraga has been nominated as the new Chief Justice of Kenya.

Maraga, 65, will take over from Willy Mutunga, who retired in June 2016 if approved by President Uhuru Kenyatta and the National Assembly.

The Judicial Service Commission announced on Thursday that the CJ will assume office with immediate effect.

The Kisumu-based judge was the third to be interviewed for the

.

He was

among 11 judges

by the Judicial Service Commission.

During the interviews, Maraga

found himself at pains to demonstrate his expertise in applying the law in

.

Attorney General Githu Muigai, one of the panelists, put him to the test, seeking to know how he would pass judgment in suits where two or several laws were at conflict.

He used a case study of a surrogate mother who decided not to give a child to its separated biological parents, who were both seeking custody.

Maraga admitted that the question was tricky but answered:

"In this scenario, the child's interest is paramount."

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