High Court consolidates petitions against Chief Justice Koome, other judges
Additionally, the court extended conservatory orders barring the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) from proceeding with the removal petitions until the matter is heard and determined.
The High Court has consolidated seven petitions challenging the removal of Chief Justice Martha Koome and other Supreme Court judges.
During a court session on Friday, a three-judge bench comprising Justices Charles Kariuki, Lawrence Mugambi, and Bahati Mwamuye granted the Chief Justice and the other Supreme Court judges more time to amend their petition.
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The court also merged the seven separate petitions into a single case to streamline proceedings. Lawyers representing the parties supported the consolidation.
“These orders have been pending for a while… we shall proceed with the main petition to save the court’s time,” the bench noted.
The court directed all parties to submit hard copies of their pleadings by May 21, 2025, and to file their responses by May 28, 2025.
“All pending applications related to these matters have been dispensed with,” the bench further directed.
Additionally, the court extended conservatory orders barring the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) from proceeding with the removal petitions until the matter is heard and determined.
The case is scheduled for mention on July 4, 2025, to fix dates for the highlighting of submissions.
On May 6, a three-judge bench was constituted to hear and determine the petitions seeking to remove Chief Justice Koome and other Supreme Court judges from office.
This followed a High Court ruling that the case filed by the judges raises substantial legal questions warranting determination by more than one judge.
The bench comprises Justices Charles Kariuki, Lawrence Mugambi, and Bahati Mwamuye.
When the parties appeared before High Court Deputy Registrar Emmie Chelule, she confirmed that Chief Justice Koome had empanelled the three-judge bench to hear and determine the petitions challenging their removal.
Koome, who also serves as President of the Supreme Court, alongside Justices Njoki Ndung’u, Isaac Lenaola, William Ouko, and Smokin Wanjala, had moved to the High Court to contest the manner in which the Judicial Service Commission was handling the removal petitions.
The petitions were filed by former Law Society of Kenya President Nelson Havi and 15 others.
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