Magistrate dismissed from Judiciary

By Benard Sanga and Willis Oketch

Shanzu Senior Resident Magistrate Timothy ole Tanchu was dismissed from the Judiciary after he failed to explain the source of several large deposits made into his bank accounts and his failure to pay tax, according to a vetting report.

The Judges and Magistrate Vetting Board also found that the magistrate had issued unjust orders that led to the demolition of property in Mombasa in a matter over which his court did not have jurisdiction.

The board’s findings obtained by The Standard also reveal that Tanchu had been reprimanded by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and denied promotion for two years after he was found to have taken money from the Judiciary unlawfully and failed to return it.

Unsuitable

“He got money from the cash office, which is improper, and used it to his benefit and failed to return it,” states the report.

The board further says Tanchu also received payment from a car business in which he was involved in Mombasa but refused to pay his creditors until JSC intervened.

When the vetting board confronted him, Tanchu said, “I know it is criminal, but I thought that if I am paying say, other taxes, like even through the purchase of vehicles, I was paying tax.”

Tanchu is one of nine magistrates dismissed this year after they were found unsuitable  to serve.