Judge in Gachagua ouster trial among 33 moved
The changes also involve key judges moving to new presiding roles in courts across Kenya, including Kisumu, Meru, Kajiado, and Nairobi, in accordance with the High Court's Transfer Policy.
One of the High Court judges who presided over the impeachment hearing of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is among the 33 judges transferred in the latest changes by Chief Justice Martha Koome.
Justice Anthony Mrima, who presided over the hearing alongside Justices Eric Ogola and Freda Mugambi, has been transferred from Kitale to the Civil Division in Nairobi and the Judicial Service Commission.
CJ Koome announced the transfers on Tuesday, December 17, through a statement by the Principal Judge of the High Court Justice Eric Kennedy Okumu Ogola. The judges will report to their new stations from January 2025.
"This is to bring to your notice that Chief Justice Martha Koome has effected transfers of 33 judges of the High Court. The transfers are done in accordance with the Transfer Policy of the High Court," said part of the statement signed by Justice Ogola.
Following the changes; Justice Alfred Mabeya, who has been the Presiding Judge of Milimani High Court Commercial and Tax Division will now serve as the Presiding Judge of Kisumu High Court.
Kisumu High Court Presiding Judge Roslyn Aburili has been transferred to Nairobi to serve as Presiding Judge Judicial Review Division at the Milimani Law Courts.
Meru High Court Presiding Judge Edward Muriithi has been transferred to Kerugoja where he will serve in the same capacity.
Justice Muriithi who was appointed Judge of the High Court in 2011, has served as judge at Mombasa, Kisii, Machakos, Nairobi, Kabarnet and Meru High Courts.
Murang'a High Court Judge Cecilia Githua has been elevated to Presiding Judge at the same station.
Before becoming a High Court judge, Githua served as a magistrate in various courts and at various levels of the judiciary, including the Chief Magistrate, for over 22 years.
Lady Justice Christine Meoli has been transferred from the Civil Division in Nairobi to Kajiado as Presiding Judge.
Lady Justice Roselyne Korir has been transferred from Bomet where she was Presiding Judge to Chuka in the same capacity.
Lady Justice Stella Ngali Mutuku, who was the Presiding Judge of the Kajiado High Court, has been transferred to Nairobi to head the Civil Division of the Milimani Law Courts.
The head of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Division in Nairobi, Lady Justice Esther Maina, has been transferred to Machakos to serve as the station's presiding judge.
Early this year, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua was involved in a spat with Lady Justice Maina.
The ex-DP announced that he would file a petition seeking the removal of Justice Esther Maina from office, claiming that the judge had unceremoniously declared his fortune proceeds of crime, a move he said was meant to taint his image.
The DP claimed that Justice Maina denied him the opportunity to be heard against all the rules of evidence and that she even refused his application to cross-examine the investigator of his corruption case.
He, however, did not file the petition.
Others who have been transferred include Nyandarua Chief Magistrate Charles Kariuki, who is going to Narok in the same position, and Justice Lilian Mutende, who was heading the criminal division at the Milimani courts.
She will now head Nyahururu High Court.
Justice Francis Gikonyo moves from Presiding Judge Narok to head the Commercial Division in Nairobi.
Justice Kiarie W Kiarie moves from Homabay to Nyandarua as Presiding Judge, Justice Jairus Ngaa of the Judicial Review Nairobi will now serve as Mombasa High Court Presiding Judge.
Kitui High Court Presiding Judge Robert Limo moves to Kitale under the same capacity.
Embu High Court Presiding Judge Lucy Njuguna heads to Nairobi to serve as the Presiding Judge of the Anti-Corruption Division.
Justice Mugure Thande who has been serving in Malindi now becomes the Presiding Judge at the station.
Other presiding judges who have been transferred include;
Lady Justice Lucy Gitari from Chuka to Kitui, Justice Richard Mwongo from Kerugoya to Embu, Justice Jesse Nyaga from Marsabit to Garden, Justice Stephen Githinji from Malindi to Meru, Justice Olga Sewe from Mombasa to Homabay, Justice David Kemei from Bungoma to Siaya, Justice Francis Odhiambo from Machakos to Marsabit, Justice Margaret Muigai from Machakos to be in charge of community service orders at the Criminal Division in Nairobi and Justice James Wakiaga has been moved from Murang'a to Nairobi Criminal Division Makadara.
Judges who have also been moved from one station to another include Justice Francis Andayi who has been transferred from Mombasa to Kwale, Justice Nixon Sifuna moving from the Commercial Division to the Civil Division in Nairobi, Justice Shariff Mwanaisha from Kisumu to Bungoma, Justice Tabitha Ouya from Civil Division Nairobi to Murang'a, Justice Rhoda Rutto from Commercial Division Nairobi to Machakos.
Others are Justice Joe Omido who has been moved from Civil Division Nairobi to Kisumu and Justice Julius Kipkosgei moved from Mombasa to Bomet.
