JSC wants Supreme Court Judge Ojwang out over Obado ruling

The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has recommended that President Uhuru Kenyatta establishes a tribunal to investigate Supreme Court Judge Jackton Ojwang.

Justice Ojwang is alleged to have benefited from the construction of a road leading to his rural house in Migori County, in return for a favourable ruling involving Governor Okoth Obado.

JSC wants Justice Ojwang probed and possibly removed for alleged gross misconduct, abuse of office and corruption.

The commission will write to the President on Wednesday after they held a two hour meeting on Tuesday where they made the resolution.

Justice Ojwang declined to appear in person before JSC a move the commissioners concluded as disrespectful.

Once President Kenyatta receives the JSC recommendation, he will establish a tribunal and justice Ojwang will stand suspended, pending the tribunal’s verdict.

He however will be accorded an opportunity to be heard and be represented by his lawyers.

This comes just a week after JSC received a petition seeking the removal of four Supreme Court judges alleged to have violated the Constitution during the Wajir gubernatorial petition.

A statement from the JSC said the petition implicates Justices Mohammed Ibrahim, Jackton Ojwang, Smokin Wanjala and Njoki Ndung’u.

“The petition was considered and the Commission directed that the same be served upon the named judges. They were given 14 days to respond to the issues raised therein,” it said.

The Supreme Court judges are also accused of gross misconduct as well as breach of the Judicial Code of Conduct and Ethics and Oath of Office.