A three-judge bench has been appointed to determine petitions challenging the removal of Chief Justice Martha Koome and several Supreme Court judges from office.
The three-judge bench comprising Justices Charles Kariuki, Lawrence Mugambi and Bahati Mwamuye has been formed in response to a High Court ruling that the case filed by Supreme Court judges raised significant legal issues that should be considered.
The news about the appointed three-judge bench was confirmed by High Court Deputy Registrar Emmie Chelule.
“I do confirm that the bench was empanelled on April 30. We have Mr. Justice Charles Kariuki as the presiding judge and justices Mugambi and Bahati”, Chelule stated.
Chief Justice Koome alongside several Supreme Court judges had petitioned the High Court to challenge the Judicial Service Commission’s (JSC) handling of the removal cases.
However, lawyers for the defendants including Nelson Havi contended that Chief Justice Koome, as a petitioner in the case, could not lawfully appoint a bench to hear a matter in which she has a personal interest.
The appointment by Koome followed a ruling by Justice Mugambi, who ordered the file to be transmitted to the Chief Justice for constitutionally required appointment of an uneven bench.
