JSC given 14 days ultimatum to probe Judge Chitembwe
The Law Society of Kenya have given the Judicial Service Commission 14-days ultimatum to probe Justice Said Chitembwe.
All Nairobi advocates have threatened to forcefully eject Chitwembe from office if no action will be taken against him.
Led by LSK Nairobi Chapter Chair, Eric Theuri, the advocates advised the judge to ‘soul search’ and examine his moral compass and if the allegations are true he should step aside.
The advocates were reacting to a video posted online by former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko allegedly showing the judge discussing how to compromise a case.
In the video, Chitembwe is seen communicating with his brother about a Sh100 million bribe to rule in favor of a particular case.
Reacting to the video which has evoked mixed reactions from Kenyans, especially the law fraternity, Nelson Havi said that the JSC must now initiate the removal of Chitembwe on its own without much delay to protect its reputation.
“I have examined the expose by Mike Sonko. The Judiciary took him out of office through subterfuge and he is determined to go down with it if JSC does not act. JSC must initiate the process of removal of the judge on its own, without any further delay. It is so ordered,” he wrote.
Chitembwe was one of the two judges arrested in July after police said they got a tip-off they had intended to receive a bribe.
In an affidavit filed in court , DCI through Chief Inspector Felix Karisa Banzi said that they recovered USD 50,000 from an unidentified lady in Justice Aggrey Muchelule’s chambers and a further 7,000 USD from Justice Said Chitembwe.
However, Chitembwe said the Sh770,000 which was recovered in US Dollars, was intended for his son’s Australian school fees.
He claimed that he had custody of the funds since July 20 this year because he could not transfer the funds straight to his son’s University tuition account as he had requested.
“I was waiting to find time and go to the bank for help and advice on how to transfer the money directly to the university as requested by my son when I was unceremoniously and embarrassed , roughed up and arrested within the court premises for no crime at all,” Chetembwe explained.
“As a family we have kept a dollar account under my wife’s name for over three years and as such it’s not unusual or suspect for me to have US Dollars in my possession as its proposed by the DCI.”
