Justice Edward Muriithi steps aside from rice import case despite rejecting government bias claims

Justice Edward Muriithi has recused himself from a case challenging the government’s plan to import 490,000 tonnes of rice duty-free, saying he wanted to protect the integrity of the proceedings from allegations of bias. The Kerugoya High Court judge rejected claims by the Attorney-General that he had favoured Kirinyaga Senator Kamau Murango, who filed the petition against the imports. Justice Muriithi found no evidence of actual bias, personal interest or conflict of interest but said it was in the interests of justice for another judge to hear the dispute. “This court takes no personal interest or property in any matter before it, and it must, in the interest of securing the process of the court from any allegations of bias, allow the hearing of the dispute by another court,” he said.