Judge Who Stopped Finance Act Implementation Among 13 Moved In Latest Transfers
The court continued to transfer thirteen judges, including some whose judgments went against the executive.
The letter announcing the change in the positions of the 13 judges was signed by the chief judge of the Supreme Court, Judge Eric Ogola and noted that the transfer will begin on October 2 this year.
Among those who left their current post is Judge Mugure Thande, who is now moving from the Constitutional and Human Rights Division of the Mililani High Court in Nairobi to the Malindi High Court.
Justice Thande’s recent judgments have appeared to go against the government. It was in that court that the case against the implementation of the 2023 financial law reached. He suspended the implementation of the controversial 2023 finance law, temporarily suspending the government in its race to collect taxes and recommending the appointment of a three-judge bench. to hear the case.
Justice Thande had also halted the government’s plans to import and sell genetically modified foods eight months earlier by stalling the cabinet’s lifting of the ten-year ban on genetically modified organisms (GMOs). A three-judge panel then agreed to a temporary suspension, excluding GMOs from Kenya’s menu for the time being.
Judges Aleem Visram and Hedwig Ong’udi were also transferred in the transfer, with Judge Visram moving from the Mililani civil division to the commercial and tax division and Hedwig Ong’udi going to Nakuru as chief judge. The two were part of a three-judge bench that ruled the appointment of 50 chief secretaries (CAS) unconstitutional, thus thwarting the president’s plans to reward government supporters.
Judge David Majanja, who is currently presiding over three judges hearing cases challenging the implementation of the 2023 Finance Bill, will now serve in the Litigation Division of the High Court of the Hills from the current Business and Tax Division that serves it.
Another major transfer is that of Judge Diana Kavedza, who was recently promoted to High Court judge and the judge who was presiding over the Coffee court.
The judge was transferred from the criminal division of the Milimani court to the Kibra and Kahawa courts. Kavedza presided over the murder trial of Eastleigh officer Ahmed Rashid, who was charged with murder.
Others who were evicted in the transfer of judicial authority are Chacha Mwita, Hillary Chemitei, Maureen Odero, Florence Muchemi, Patricia Gichohi, Teresa Odera, Peter Mulwa. Lilian Mutende has been appointed as CSO president.
This transfer comes at the same time as the appointment of 70 resident judges by the Judicial Service Commission. The appointment of 70 judges should help speed up the hearing and decision of cases and reduce the backlog of cases.