Koome’s JSC Hits Back At Daily Nation’s Controversial Article On 10 Judges
The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has chastised Nation Media Group (NMG) for a contentious article published on Monday, November 25, titled “Why 10 Judges face ouster over Ksh. 3bn land feud.”
JSC stated in a statement made on Tuesday, November 26, that it received five petitions filed on October 11 of this year, seeking the dismissal of 10 judges.
According to the Commission, the petition referred to another lawsuit brought in court 32 years ago, in 1992.
The Commission stated that, while the current petition was still being heard and determined, the Judiciary had already declared itself on the matter filed before it in 1992.
Statement by the Judicial Service Commission on the Daily Nation story and the Law Society Kenya statement pic.twitter.com/6t3VMDo1Uy
— Judicial Service Commission Kenya (JSC) (@jsckenya) November 26, 2024
The appeal, presented before the court last month, implicates ten judges who presided over the hearing and decision of a Ksh30 billion property dispute between a state-owned organization and a Kenyan family.
According to a Daily Nation report, the petition demands the removal of ten senior judges for alleged malpractice in managing a decades-long dispute over 443 acres of land in Juja, Kiambu County.
According to JSC, the article was a “sensationalised and one-sided story that was based solely on the petitioner’s claims,” which unfairly exposed the judges in question to reputational injury.
JSC further observed that the article speculates on prospective outcomes, including the ramifications of the removal of the abovementioned judges, but the case has yet to be heard or determined by the commission.
While clarifying the subject, JSC urged on the media to avoid agenda-setting, which is intended to disparage the institution and entrench baseless notions.
Instead, they should allow due process to run its course without swaying public opinion or sparking unfounded speculation.
“The JSC recognises the critical role of the media in ensuring access to information by the public but urges practitioners to maintain fairness, balance, and responsibility in their reporting,” read part of the statement by the JSC.
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Meanwhile, the commission also responded to a recent statement by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) that questioned the independence of the country’s judicial system.
Following an application by the @LawSocietyofKe, the High Court has issued a conservatory order suspending the impugned decision of @ForeignOfficeKE listing the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation as an organisation of Consular Status with privileges under the Privileges and… pic.twitter.com/rCGtVHxMJ8
— Faith Odhiambo (@FaithOdhiambo8) November 25, 2024
The commission highlighted that the law society’s recent statement did not identify particular instances in which the JSC failed to act on graft allegations within its organs.
“The JSC reaffirms its unwavering commitment to promoting and facilitating the accountability of the Judiciary,” read part of the commission’s statement.
“We assure the public that all petitions and complaints will continue to be handled with the highest level of integrity, impartiality, and adherence to due process.”
Koome’s JSC Hits Back At Daily Nation’s Controversial Article On 10 Judges
