NAIROBI,Kenya, May, 4 – The Judicial Service Commission in a statement has announced that it has approved the removal of Justice said Chitembwe from office over allegations of impropriety and gross misconduct.
JSC had initiated the proceedings for his removal in accordance with provisions of Article 168 (2) of the constitution.
“The Commission would like to notify the public that the panel constituted to consider the petitions concluded its work and presented its report to the full Commission for deliberation,” read a statement from the JSC.
The commission said that it had considered the report of the panel on the petition and was satisfied that it had disclosed grounds for the removal of Chitembwe.
“Accordingly, the commission resolved to send the petition to his excellency the president for his further action in accordance with Article 168 (4) of the constuitution,”
Several petitions had been filed against the judge including one by Francis Wambua claiming the judge has involved himself in various acts of gross judicial misconduct, including discussing the merits of a matter pending in court, with third parties.
Another one was filed by former Nairobi governor Mike Sonko who protested that the judgment that upheld him being removed from office was marred by allegations of bribery and fraud.
Sonko subsequently released compromising video clips acusing the judge of corruption.
Chitembwe alongside High Court colleague Aggrey Muchelule had been arrested by sleuths from the DCI and later released without being charged.
According to the constitution, the grounds for the removal of a judge include inability to perform the functions of office arising from mental or physical incapacity, breach of a code of conduct prescribed for judges, bankruptcy, incompetence or gross misconduct or misbehavior.
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