Seasoned judges set for impending reshuffles at the Judiciary
Yesterday, Chief Justice Martha Koome notified 25 judges of their transfer as a result of the recent promotion of six judges from the High Court to the Apex Court. Judge Antony Mrima, Justice Grace Nzioka, Lady Justice Mugure Thande, and Justice Kanyi Kimondo are among the names mentioned.
Justice Anthony Mrima, who currently presides over the Constitutional and Human Rights Division in Milimani, Nairobi, has been informed that he will take over as Presiding Judge of the High Court in Kitale on August 1, 2022. He will succeed Luka Kimaru, who has since been promoted to the appellate court with counterparts, Justices Lydia Achode, Fredrick Ochieng, John Mativo, Grace Ngenye and Aroni Abida Ali.
Judge Mrima set a record during the Covid-19 pandemic by issuing 70 judgments in 23 days before being transferred to Nairobi.
Justice Mrima has been pivotal in several significant issues, including the Chief Justice’s decision to forbid attorneys from commenting on a presidential petition that is pending before the Supreme Court and the recently completed selection of seven justices for the Court of Appeal.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) was ordered by the Judge to allow Ruben Kigame on the ballot for the August 9 Presidential Election. However, the electoral board appealed the ruling and was successful in getting the injunction suspended.
George Kinoti, the Director of Criminal Investigation (DCI), was recently given a four-month prison term by Mrima for disregarding court orders.
Justice Mrima also quashed President Uhuru Kenyatta’s appointment of Cabinet Administrative Secretaries (CAS) terming it unconstitutional.
The Judiciary’s transfer notice states that all outstanding judgments and judgment cases before the judge have been postponed indefinitely.
“Take Notice that Justice Antony Mrima will not be sitting starting on July 22, 2022, since he is on transfer.”
“The Deputy Registrar will now be informed of the matters that were scheduled to come before him to set fresh dates. On notice, judgment and decisions will be made.” reads the notice.
With effect from September 15, 2022, Lady Justice Grace Nzioka, a member of the Criminal Division of the High Court who exhibits remarkable results in case management techniques, is appointed Presiding Judge in Naivasha.
The judge recused herself from a case she was supervising involving former Cabinet Secretary, Raphael Tuju asking the London Court to recover Sh1.5billion in loans during her time working in the criminal division.
She is the trial judge in the murder case involving former news anchor, Jacqueline Maribe and her co-accused Joseph Irungu, alias Jowie, at the family division.
Lady Justice Mugure Thande will move from the Family Division to the Constitutional and Human Rights Division as of August 1, 2022. The most well-known case Justice Mugure handled involved the order to avoid sharing the late Tob Cohen’s wealth with his close family members.
As of September 15, 2022, Justice Kanyi Kimondo, who had previously served in Murang’a, would preside over the Criminal Division. He has rendered important decisions, such as sentensing Grace Njeri to four years in prison for the manslaughter of her son after she pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
