High court Judge Anthony Mrima has consolidated two petitions seeking the removal of Justice Sankale Ole Kantai from office.
The two petitions have been filed by the late Dutch National Tob Cohen’s sister Gabriel Hannah Van Straten and Human Rights activist Okiya Omtatah.
He also suspended any further hearings at the JSC on the same pending the hearing and determination of those petitions at the high court.
Mrima added that since all the two matters against Sankale are relating to the late Cohen,he has no doubt to consolidate the same.
He therefore consolidated the matters filed by Okiya Omtatah and Cohen sister seeking the removal of Sankale from office.
Omtatah wants the removal of Sankale from office over the saga surrounding the murder of Dutch tycoon Tob Cohen.
Omtatah says Justice Sankale is not eligible to continue serving as a judge.
“The Judicial Service Commission be pleased to initiate the necessary procedures for the removal of Hon. Justice Sankale Ole Kantai for breach of the oath of office and gross misconduct and/or misbehaviour incompatible with the status of a Judge of the Court of Appeal of Kenya,” the petition reads.
Sankale has since obtained orders stopping Inspector General of police Hilary Mutyambi and Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti from arresting or charging him over the death of a murdered Dutch businessman.
In October last year Gabriel van Straten, Cohen’s sister, filed a petition at the Judicial Service Commission seeking to remove Justice Sankale ole Kantai from office.
Through lawyer Danstan Omari,Straten wanted JSC to begin the process of removing the embattled judge from office, citing gross misconduct.
The judge directed the applicant to file and serve the respondents within 3 days of service.
