Justice Lenaola: "I have no problem going home"

Supreme Court Judge Isaac Lenaola has expressed his dissatisfaction with general petitions launched seeking the removal of supreme judges.

Speaking at Embu University on Friday, Justice Lenaola challenged the petitioners to file individual complaints against each judge rather than the whole bench.

“If you want to remove judges from the Supreme Court, begin by proving your claim against each judge. Suppose these petitions go through, and we are all removed; the law says that judges have a right to appeal to the Supreme Court. So look at the absurdity of Supreme Court judges appealing to themselves?” he posed.

Justice Lenaola reasoned that the judges have the right to petition their removal with an argument of it being “unconstitutional”.

He further questioned whether the Chief Justice will be able to appoint a bench of more judges to handle the matter, considering that she is also implicated in the complaint.

The judge then criticised the petition, declaring that he is ready to vacate the office if it passes through.

“I have no problem going home if proven I am worthless, but it must be on very serious grounds… It cannot be games on social media. Removing the Supreme Court of government is decimating the whole arm of government," he said.

He then urged the public to restore trust in the judiciary to strengthen the rule of law and serve justice.

Justice Lenaola’s remarks come as four petitions have been filed seeking the removal of Supreme Court and High Court judges.

One of the petitions, filed by lawyer Nelson Havi and three others, accuses the judges of gross misconduct and misbehavior.