Sonko petitions JSC for removal of Justice Said Chitembwe over gross misconduct
Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has filed a petition seeking removal of High Court Judge Said Juma Chitembwe over graft allegations.
Sonko filed the petition today at the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) offices.
Besides Sonko, a petitioner has also moved to the JSC seeking the removal of Chitembwe from office over allegations of impropriety and gross misconduct.
Francis Wambua says he has credible information that Chitembwe received bribe to change the outcome of two petitions before the honourable Judge.
According to Wambua, Amana Saidi Jirani received a bribe on behalf of Chitembwe to rule against Sonko in two petitions before him.
“Chitembwe has been using Jirani as his agent and proxy in dealings of such nature, and I have evidence of telephone conversation supporting the same. In phone conversations, the Judge confirms that he was approached by Lawyer Cecil Miller and County Assembly Majority Leader Abdi Guyo who wanted the Judge to rule against former Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko,” read the petition.
“I have reliable and credible information that Guyo and Miller visited Chitembwe at his residence in Mountain View Estate off Waiyaki Way, Nairobi on 9th July, 2021 and held lengthy discussions touching on the above Constitutional Petitions in a bid to influence the outcome of the above Constitutional Petitions presided over by him.”
He claims the Constitutional Petitions were dismissed by the Bench on accounts of fraudulent and corrupt dealings by Chitembwe who presided over the Petitions.
Wambua says it is necessary in the public interest that Chitembwe be removed from office forthwith for gross judicial misconduct among other reasons.
He further wants the JSC to investigate the purpose of money received by Jirani on behalf of Chitembwe saying he has in his possession M-PESA transactions and Bank RTGS statements evidencing the various payments made to Jirani.
Further, he has urged JSC to direct the relevant agencies like the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Office of Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) to investigate and institute criminal charges against Justice Chitembwe once investigations are complete.
The commission has set up a panel to consider petitions seeking Chitembwe ouster over allegations of impropriety and gross misconduct.
JSC has ordered that the petitions be formally served on the judge, upon which he has 14 days to respond to allegations of corruption and presiding over a succession property matter he had a direct interest in.
JSC says Chitembwe has an opportunity to tell his side of the story.
