Martha Koome
The Judicial Service Commission (JSC)has initiated the process of removing Environment and Land Court Judge Mohamed Noor Kullow from office.
In a statement on Wednesday, JSC said it has submitted a petition to President William Ruto to convene a tribunal to remove the Judge over grounds of violating the constitution and Judicial Service Conduct.
According to the Commission, five petitions were filed before it against Justice Kullow and after convening a panel, three out of the five filed petitions were found to have sufficient grounds to remove the High Court Judge.
Justice Kullow was accused of inordinately delaying or failing to deliver rulings or judgments in a total of 116 matters.
“The Commission was satisfied that 3 out of the 5 Petitions as well as the proceedings at the Commission’s own motion had disclosed grounds for the removal of Hon. Justice Kullow from office over gross misconduct; incompetence and violation of the Judicial Service Code of Conduct. Two Petitions were dismissed for failure to disclose sufficient grounds for removal.
“The Commission has Petitioned His Excellency the President to appoint a tribunal in accordance with Article 168 (4) & (5) of the Constitution,” JSC stated.
At the same time, JSC announced it has resolved to dismiss Principal Magistrate Patrick Wambugu from service for gross misconduct.
“Hon. Mr. Wambugu was accused of irregularly altering bond terms that resulted in the release of an accused person who had been charged with defilement of a six-year-old minor. The accused person has since jumped bail,” said JSC.
Further JSC mentioned that it has received 85 petitions/complaints against Judges with a total of 37 being dismissed on grounds that they were based on the merits or decisional independence of a Judge.
Of the remaining petitions, 30 are pending preliminary evaluation before the Commission; 11 are awaiting responses from the Judges concerned; 3 petitions have been admitted for hearing; and 4 petitions have been forwarded to the President for appointment of a tribunal.
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