This archive report was first published on 18 November 2021.
On November 18, 2021, Chief Justice Martha Koome confirmed that the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) would be investigating the conduct of Justice Said Chitembwe, whose integrity had been questioned due to viral videos on social media.
The videos, which were linked to a land case under investigation by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), raised serious integrity concerns about Justice Chitembwe, who had downplayed the issue, claiming the videos had been edited and manipulated to malign his name.
According to the Judicial Service Commission's procedures, the removal of a judge can only be initiated by the JSC acting on its own motion or on the petition of any person to the JSC.
Justice Chitembwe, who was vetted for the position of Chief Justice in April 2021, accused former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko of pursuing a personal vendetta against him, claiming that Sonko had posted the recent videos.
Chief Justice Koome stated that the JSC would deliberate on Justice Chitembwe's conduct in line with constitutional and statutory rules, emphasizing that the JSC had taken judicial notice of the matter.
