High Court begins hearing petitions of sacked judges

The High Court in Nairobi begins hearing of petitions filed by sacked judges, who are questioning both the legitimacy and the decisions of the Judges and Magistrates Vetting Board. Read (Two judges in fresh bid to overturn sackings)

Five judges sit at the ceremonial hall on the ground floor of the Milimani Law Courts from 9.00am to hear the petitions.

Sacked Court of Appeal judges Joseph Nyamu, Samuel Bosire, Riaga Omollo and Justice Jeanne Gacheche formerly of the High Court moved to court after the vetting board declared them unfit to serve the Kenyan Judiciary.

After being dismissed, the five judges applied to the board to review its decision, but the board upheld its initial verdict.

The board had found that Justice Nyamu was found to have been a “gate-keeper” for powerful individuals when he served at the High Court, while the board held that Justice Bosire was unfit due to the manner in which he handled the Goldenberg Inquiry.

Justice Omollo was found to have exhibited inconsistency in his decisions touching on political matters, and authoritarianism, while Justice Gacheche was found to have abused her judicial powers.

The Centre for Human Rights and Democracy also raised issues in court and in September obtained a 14-day stop of the board’s work.

The human rights groups petition is also scheduled for hearing on Monday together with the judges’ petition before the same judges.