Activist wants CJ Martha Koome out over appointment of tax tribunal

A human rights activist Michael Kojo Otieno has moved to court seeking the removal of the Chief Justice Martha Koome over appointment of members of the tax tribunal. [Collins Kweyu, Standard]

A human rights activist has moved to court seeking the removal of the Chief Justice Martha Koome over appointment of members of the tax tribunal.

Michael Kojo Otieno said in his court papers that the CJ had violated the law by appointing members of the tax appeal tribunal.

Otieno argued that the law requires Justice Koome to appoint 15 and not more than 20 members to the tribunal.

He noted that the CJ had appointed 22 members to the tribunal which is against the previsions of the law and therefore her leadership integrity is in question.

"While appointing persons to serve at the tax appeal tribunal, the judge failed to be honest in execution of powers conferred to her by the Tax Appeal Tribunal Act based on powers conferred to the Judge as a judicial officers contrary to rule 12(1) of the judicial officer's code of conduct hence unfit to hold the office of a judge," Otieno said in his papers.

Otieno further said that Koome had failed the test of being selfless while appointing the members of the tax appeal tribunal.

The petitioner claimed that the CJ had failed to be transparent, diligent and committed to upholding the rule of law.

He listed Judicial Service Commission as the respondent.