Supreme Court Upholds Verdict on Removal of Judge Juma Chitembwe: Legal Landscape and Standards

The Supreme Court has affirmed the dismissal of the petition by suspended High Court Judge Juma Chitembwe, challenging a tribunal’s recommendation for his removal on grounds of gross misconduct. The court, composed of a five-member bench, unequivocally supported the findings of the tribunal led by Justice Ngugi. Chitembwe’s arguments regarding the tribunal’s jurisdiction, failure to uphold judicial independence, and unlawfully obtained electronic evidence were rejected. The court determined that his conduct indeed violated the Code of Conduct and Ethics, dismissing claims of a violation of his right to fair administrative action and emphasizing that judicial immunity did not apply in this instance. It also found no privacy violation in the presented audio and video recordings. This decision underscores the judiciary’s steadfast commitment to maintaining the highest standards of conduct among its members.