Chief Justice Martha Koome on Tuesday oversaw the swearing-in of the 12-member tribunal that will handle four petitions seeking the removal of Justice Mohammed Noor Kullow from office.
The 12 were appointed by President William Ruto through a Gazette Notice dated March 8, 2024.
They include Justice Patrick Omwenga Kiage who is the chairperson of the tribunal and six members.
The members are Lady Justice Margaret Njoki Mwangi, Justice Anthony Charo Mrima, Senior Counsel Jinaro Kipkemoi Kibet, Wanjiru Mwariri, Rukia Abdinasir Mohamed and Charles Mulila.
Senior Counsel Dorcas Agik Oduor took oath as the Legal Counsel of the team.
The joint secretaries include Jasper Mbiuki and Collins Kiprono.
Also sworn in are two assistant counsels Emmanuel Omondi Bitta and Georgiadis Majimbo.
The tribunal will interrogate issues raised in the petition and file its report recommending the next course of action.
They will determine whether the allegations raised constitute a breach of the Constitution.
It is also required to expeditiously prepare and submit a report and its recommendations, and to exercise all the words conferred upon it by the law in doing so.
Kullow was suspended from office as an Environment and Land Court Judge on Friday.
He is facing allegations of incompetence, gross misconduct, violation of the Constitution and breach of the Judicial Service (Code of Conduct and Ethics) Regulations, 2020.
The petitions submitted claim that during his term at Narok Law Courts where he handled some 116 matters, he allegedly occasioned delay and failed to deliver a specific number of judgments and rulings.
The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) submitted the petitions to Ruto stating that as per its findings, constitutional grounds for removal had been met.
The President, guided by Article 168(5)(b) of the Constitution as read with Section 31 of the Judicial Service Act, 2011, appointed the tribunal.
Article 168(5) provides that the president shall, within 14 days after receiving the petition, suspend the judge from office.
He is then required to appoint a tribunal consisting of a chairperson and three other members including one advocate of fifteen years standing and two other persons with experience in public affairs.
