Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Court David Maraga has transferred 14 more judges in another reshuffle that saw three Court of Appeal judges moved from Kisumu to Nairobi and three others from Nairobi to Kisumu. Among those transferred from Nairobi to Kisumu are Justice A. Makhandia, Justice Patrick Kiage and Justice Otieno-Odek.
Maraga indicated that Justice Erastus Githinji, Lady Justice Hannah Okwengu and Lady Justice Jamila Mohammed will relocate from Kisumu to Nairobi. A number of Court of Appeal judges have also been transferred from Malindi and Nyeri to Nairobi and others from Nairobi to Malindi and Nyeri.
CJ Maraga announces transfer of Court of Appeal Judges pic.twitter.com/8C0hSNpY49
— The Judiciary Kenya (@Kenyajudiciary) February 11, 2019
Lady Justice Wanjiru Karanja and her counterpart Lady Justice Martha Koome were moved to Nairobi from Malindi, whereas Justice S. Gatembu Kairu and Lady Justice A.K. Murgor were relocated TO Malindi from Nairobi. Lady Justice Fatuma Sichale and Justice Sankale ole Kantai were transferred from Nyeri to Nairobi and their counterparts Lady Justice Roselyn Nambuye and Justice Daniel moved from Nairobi to Nyeri.
The Chief Justice noted the deployment, which was done in consultation of the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ouko, was normal and routine. “The deployment is strictly in accordance with the Court of Appeal Transfer Policy that states that a COA judge will serve in one station for a period of two years.” The changes are expected to take effect from April 8, 2019.
The transfers come barely a week after Maraga moved five High Court judges in a major reshuffle that saw Justice Chacha Mwita moved from Nairobi to Kajiado High Court. Mwita who was the head of the Constitutional and Human Rights Division at the Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi will now be the presiding judge at Kajiado. Justice Weldon Korir who was stationed at the Malindi High Court would be the presiding judge at the Constitutional and Human Rights Division at the Milimani Law Courts.