A tribunal has recommended the removal of High Court Judge Justice Said Juma Chitembwe who was under investigation.
Findings of the tribunal were presented to President William Ruto on Tuesday afternoon.
The tribunal was appointed by President Uhuru Kenyatta in April last year to probe the conduct of Justice Chitembwe. This followed a recommendation by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) that Justice Chitembwe be removed from office over leaked videos that depicted him in a scheme to compromise an active court case.
President Kenyatta then suspended Justice Chitembwe and appointed the tribunal to determine his suitability to continue serving in the Judiciary over claims of gross misconduct and impropriety.
The tribunal, which was chaired by appellate judge Mumbi Ngugi, was tasked with re-evaluating the evidence that formed basis of the Judicial Service Commission’s decision to recommend the removal of Justice Chitembwe.
Members of the tribunal included Senior Counsel Fred Ojiambo, High Court judge Abida Ali Aroni, Labour Relations Court judge Nzioki wa Makau and lawyer James Ochieng’ Oduol.
Other members were former Kenya Air Force Deputy Commander, Lt Gen Jackson Ndung’u, and former Teachers Service Commission chairperson Lydia Nzomo.
The lead counsel of the tribunal was Senior Counsel Kiragu Kimani, while the joint secretaries were Mr Jasper Mbiuki and Ms Sarah Yamo. Also appointed to the tribunal Joseph Gitonga Riungu (a prosecutor working at the Office of Director of Public Prosecutions) and Edward Omotii Nyang’au (a lawyer) as the assisting counsels.
