Kiir told to disclose number, costs of luxury vehicles donated to judiciary

JUBA – A prominent South Sudan activist is urging President Salva Kiir Mayardit’s office to disclose the number and the costs of luxury SUV cars that were on Saturday donated by the president to the country’s judiciary.

In a statement on Saturday, the presidency said President Salva Kiir Mayardit donated an undisclosed number of luxury vehicles to the judiciary in order to facilitate the movement of judges who have complained of having to take public transport to go to work.

In a statement to Sudans Post this morning, the Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) Edmund Yakani welcomed the decision by the president, but urged the head of state to disclose the number and the costs of the vehicles.

“CEPO appreciates the president for the donation of vehicles to the judiciary which will strengthen their commitment for effective delivery of justice and protection of human rights. The judges should now be turning up to offices on timely manner,” Yakani said.

“It is a good move by the president but we hope that the number of the vehicles should be publicly disclosed including their cost of purchase since it seems to be a donation outside budget of the government,” he added.

The prominent activist further acknowledged that lack of mobility facilitation due to scarcity of transport means for the judges has been one of the problems faced by the judges and urged the judiciary to use the vehicles properly.

“Judiciary performance in ensuring access to justice and protection of human rights is delivered timely, but has always been very low and one of the reasons was inadequate mobility. Now the mobility is improved by the president. There should no reason for late turn out for office work,” Yakani said.

“CEPO is urging the leadership of the judiciary to ensure that the vehicles are used well and not corrupted,” he added.