Mombasa lawyers celebrated the transfer of a controversial High Court judge Eric Ogola who has been moved to a lesser station Eldoret in the judiciary reshuffle announced by Chief Justice Martha Koome.
The transfer of 23 judges across the country caught many by surprise but it is the case of Ogola and that of his counterpart Weldon Korir that has dominated the public debate. Justice Korir who has been transferred from Nairobi is among the six judges that Uhuru Kenyatta rudely rejected for nomination to the Court of Appeal and the Environment and Lands Court.
In what is widely perceived as demotion, Ogola was moved from Mombasa where he had become used to high profile cases to Eldoret in a transfer that will also see Justice Olga Sewe move to Mombasa in the changes set to be effective on October 1 2021. Players in the corridor of justice say Ogola leaves Mombasa with a legacy of a man who was constantly under siege following his unorthodox manner of handling cases and his brazen way of making what was considered as weird decisions.
Eric OgolaHe was seen to be overprotective of Mombasa governor Hassan Joho and this irked lawyers who at one time protested dismissals of all 2017 election petitions that were filed against elected politicians in the governor’s camp. The lawyers who were increasingly becoming uncomfortable with the kind of relationship between Joho and Ogola, brought the matter to the attention of the Judicial Service Commission which they urged to profile all the cases the judge had handled while in Mombasa in relation to Joho family members and allies.
There were petitions that linked Justice Ogola to a criminal association with Governor Joho with accusations that he was the governor’s blue-eyed boy in the judicial circles. In a petition that was presented to the JSC, Ogola was accused of allocating himself cases involving Mombasa county and Joho family, something that was not welcomed by senior lawyers.
Martha KoomeSources privy to him say that during his heyday in Mombasa, he perfectly maximised the moment and acquired several of high-end properties in Nyali. Weekly Citizen is informed that Ogola is dejected by the recent transfer but is likely to adapt fast in his new environment, Eldoret.
Also affected is Justice James Wakiaga who was moved to Muranga High Court while Justice Sergon now calls Kakamega his new home. John Mativo has been sent to head the Mombasa High Court. In the meantime, Justice Chacha Mwita is back to Nairobi Commercial Division as Justice Grace Nzioka moves to Nyeri.
Justice Abigail Mshila has also been moved to Nairobi in the Commercial Division while Justice Jairus Ngaah has been promoted to head his current division, Milimani Judicial Review Division.
Hassan JohoJustice Antony Ndung’u stationed in Kisii will join Ngaah at the Judicial Review Division. Judge Ngenye Macharia has been moved from Nairobi to Naivasha where she will head that station while Justice David Kemei currently in Machakos moved to Bungoma.
Justice Reuben Nyakundi was moved from Malindi to Eldoret and will swap positions with Justice Stephen Githinji while Justice Stella Mutuku will take over in Kajiado. Justice Justus Bwonwonga was moved to Milimani Criminal Court from Kabarnet while Justice Janet Mulwa will be based at Civil Division Milimani.
Justice Dora Chepkwony was moved from Mombasa to Criminal Division in Milimani, Justice Margaret Muigai to Machakos and Justice Richard Mwongo to Kerugoya while Hedwig Ongudi will head the Constitutional and Human Rights Division at Milimani Court.
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