Court blocks JSC bid to oust Environment and Land Court judge Anthony Ombwayo (right) over claims linking him to former Moi aide Joshua Kulei.

📋 Breaking It Down

The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has been barred from pursuing the removal of Environment and Land Court judge Anthony Ombwayo over allegations linking him to former President Daniel arap Moi's aide, Joshua Kulei.

The Employment and Labour Relations Court found that a litigant's March 2025 letter accusing Justice Ombwayo of a conflict of interest and financial dealings with Kulei was not a valid petition for his removal under Article 168 of the Constitution.

The three-judge bench comprising Justices Jemimah Keli, Onesmus Makau and Dr Jacob Gakeri permanently stopped the JSC from proceeding with the removal process arising from the letter.

📌 What You Need to Know

“The respondent (JSC) acted without jurisdiction in treating the letter as a Petition and in inviting the petitioner (Ombwayo) to respond,” said the bench.

The dispute grew from two land cases at the Environment and Land Court in Nakuru involving Kulei and Juma Okumu, who challenged decisions by Justice Ombwayo.

Court blocks JSC bid to oust Environment and Land Court judge Anthony Ombwayo (right) over claims linking him to former Moi aide Joshua Kulei.

In one case, filed in 2023, Omar Mohammed Omar and Patrick Maina Wakanda sued Kulei, government officials, Sian Enterprises Limited and Agricultural Development Corporation over disputed land.

In a related 2024 case, Juma Okumu sought to vary directions that the petition be heard through affidavit evidence and written submissions, asking instead for the deponents of the affidavits to testify in court and be cross-examined. He had also sought for the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to be joined to the case. Justice Ombwayo dismissed the applications on February 6, 2025.

Later on July 10, 2025, Justice Ombwayo dismissed the recusal applications. Allegations included meeting litigants and lawyers, and bribery.

📰 Source: Nation Africa