The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) on Thursday confirmed it had received lawyer Nelson Havi’s petition to remove the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Martha Koome, together with the Supreme Court bench.
In a statement to the press, the Commission noted that the petition lodged by Havi was received on January 13. It cited allegations of gross misconduct and misbehavior against the seven judges.
“The JSC acknowledges receipt of a petition dated January 10 filed by Nelson Havi against the following Judges of the Supreme Court of Kenya,” read the statement in part.
JSC also disclosed that it had received 935 petitions against judges between 2011 and 2024.
Magistrates pose in front of the Supreme court Judges on December 7, 2022.
Photo
Judicial Service Commission
“Out of the 935 petitions/complaints received 862 have been finalized and 12 petitions were forwarded to the President recommending for the formation of a Tribunal for removal,” JSC announced.
According to the JSC, the remaining 73 petitions are at various stages of processing. In 2025 alone, the JSC has received a total of 5 petitions/complaints against judges.
The Commission also received two separate petitions against Justice Alfred Mabeya. One by Havi, received on January 13, 2025, alleged gross misconduct and misbehavior while another by Edwin Harold Dande received on December 18, 2024, raised similar concerns.
At the same time, Havi lodged yet another petition that was received by JSC on January 13, 2025, against Justice Lucas Leperes Naikuni, alleging incompetence in the discharge of judicial duties.
The JSC affirmed that it has procedures in place to handle all the cases to ensure the judges in question are investigated and if found guilty, disciplinary actions taken against them.
“The complaints filed will be dealt with in accordance with the processes and procedures developed and in compliance with the rule of law and Fair Administrative Action Act,” JSC assured reaffirming its unwavering commitment to its constitutional mandate to protect the independence of the Judiciary.
The JSC has over the years developed procedures for handling complaints/petitions. These procedures have been developed in tandem with the Constitution, the Judicial Service Act, international best practices, and judicial precedents.
The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) is an independent constitutional body mandated under Article 168 of the Constitution to receive and process petitions against judges.
Chief Justice and the President of the Supreme Court of Kenya Justice Martha Koome during the admission of Advocates to the Bar on Thursday, March 2, 2023.
Kenyans.co.ke