President Uhuru Kenyatta has ordered the suspension of High Court Judge Said Chitembwe.
In a gazette notice on Thursday, the Head of State further formed a tribunal to inquire into Justice Chitembwe's conduct.
"Having received and considered the Petition of the Judicial Service Commission and in exercise of the powers conferred by Article 168 (5) (b) of the Constitution of Kenya, as read together with section 31 of the Judicial Service Act, 2011, I, Uhuru Kenyatta, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces, do hereby direct as follows: 1.
"The Hon. Justice Said Juma Chitembwe, Judge of the High Court of Kenya, be and is hereby suspended from office with immediate effect," the Gazette notice reads in part.
The Tribunal consists of Lady Justice Mumbi Ngugi, who will be the chairperson, Fred N. Ojiambo, Lady Justice Abida Ali Aroni, Justice Nzioki wa Makau and James Ochieng Oduol.
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The President's order comes after the Judicial Service Commission recommended the removal of Justice Chitembwe from office.
JSC said that it had received petitions seeking the removal of Chitembwe on allegations of impropriety and gross misconduct, initiating the removal of the judge.
“At its meeting on April 27, 2022, the JSC considered the report of the panel on the petition initiated by the commission in its own motion, and is satisfied that the petition discloses grounds for the removal of Hon. Justice Chitembwe Juma from office, pursuant to the provisions of Article 168(1) of the Constitution," JCS stated.
