High Court Judge Lawrence Mugambi has extended an order prohibiting the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) from hearing petitions filed against Chief Justice Martha Koome.
In what appears to be a fresh reprieve for CJ Koome and her fellow Supreme Court judges, the new orders would prolong the date for hearing the case, which had previously been set for March 12.
The new development occurred after the High Court issued orders on February 21 prohibiting the JSC from hearing petitions against the beleaguered head of the Judiciary and her colleagues.
Justice Mugambi has instructed all parties to file their responses to an application seeking the formation of a bench to hear the cases.
Citing internet connectivity challenges, the court directed that the matter be heard in open court.
The case is scheduled for mention on the 28th of this month.
The orders stemmed from a petition filed by Justice Njoki Ndung’u asking the court to stop the petition seeking the removal of the seven Supreme Court judges.
For the past few months, the Judiciary has been in a civil war involving Koome and the Supreme Court judges, a section of high-profile legal practitioners led by Nelson Havi, and the JSC.
Former Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Havi petitioned the JSC to remove all seven Supreme Court judges.
In his demands, Havi urged the JSC to order President William Ruto to convene a tribunal and begin the process of sacking the seven judges accusing them of gross misconduct, among other issues.
His petition came a day after he gave CJ Koome a 24-hour ultimatum to resign, advising her fellow judges to support his call for Koome’s resignation or risk the same fate.
