Sacked judges to file appeal at East African Court of Justice

Judges sacked on the recommendation of the Judges and Magistrates Vetting Board have now sought the intervention of the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) after the Kenyan courts upheld the board's decision.

The sacked judges have, through their lawyers, filed a notice of appeal before the EACJ, which is based in Arusha, Tanzania.

Through lawyer Stephen Mwenesi, the sacked judges stated their intention to appeal against the decision by the Supreme Court, in a notice that was copied to Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and the vetting board.

The Highest Court in the land upheld the board's decision to remove three former Court of Appeal Judges Riaga Omolo, Joseph Nyamu and Samuel Bosire and four former High Court Judges Muga Apondi, Mary Ang'awa, Jeanne Gacheche, and the late Joyce Khaminwa after finding them unfit to serve in the Judiciary.

Other suspended judges who had challenged their removal are Justices Emmanuel O'Kubasu, Mary Murugi Mugo and Leonard Njagi.

Last November, Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, his Deputy Kalpana Rawal, Judges Philip Tunoi, Jackton Ojwang, Mohamed Ibrahim, Smokin Wanjala and Njoki Ndung'u further ruled that the lower courts lacked jurisdiction to hear matters filed by the sacked judges.

The Supreme Court gave the lower courts 15 days to conclude pending cases involving the dismissed judges in accordance with the Supreme Court ruling.