Removal from office

English

(1)A judge of a superior court may be removed from office only on the grounds of—

(a)inability to perform the functions of office arising from mental or physical incapacity;

(b)a breach of a code of conduct prescribed for judges of the superior courts by an Act of Parliament;

(c)bankruptcy;

(d)incompetence; or

(e)gross misconduct or misbehaviour.

(2)The removal of a judge may be initiated only by the Judicial Service Commission acting on its own motion, or on the petition of any person to the Judicial Service Commission.

(3)A petition by a person to the Judicial Service Commission under clause (2) shall be in writing, setting out the alleged facts constituting the grounds for the judges removal.

(4)The Judicial Service Commission shall consider the petition and, if it is satisfied that the petition discloses a ground for removal under clause (1), send the petition to the President.

(5)The President shall, within fourteen days after receiving the petition, suspend the judge from office and, acting in accordance with the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission—

(a)in the case of the Chief Justice, appoint a tribunal consisting of—

(i)the Speaker of the National Assembly, as chairperson;

(ii)three superior court judges from common-law jurisdictions;

(iii)one advocate of fifteen years standing; and

(iv)two other persons with experience in public affairs; or

(b)in the case of a judge other than the Chief Justice, appoint a tribunal consisting of—

(i)a chairperson and three other members from among persons who hold or have held office as a judge of a superior court, or who are qualified to be appointed as such but who, in either case, have not been members of the Judicial Service Commission at any time within the immediately preceding three years;

(ii)one advocate of fifteen years standing; and

(iii)two other persons with experience in public affairs.

(6)Despite Article 160 (4), the remuneration and benefits payable to a judge who is suspended from office under clause (5) shall be adjusted to one half until such time as the judge is removed from, or reinstated in, office.

(7)A tribunal appointed under clause (5) shall—

(a)be responsible for the regulation of its proceedings, subject to any legislation contemplated in clause (10); and

(b)inquire into the matter expeditiously and report on the facts and make binding recommendations to the President.

(8)A judge who is aggrieved by a decision of the tribunal under this Article may appeal against the decision to the Supreme Court, within ten days after the tribunal makes its recommendations.

(9)The President shall act in accordance with the recommendations made by the tribunal on the later of—

(a)the expiry of the time allowed for an appeal under clause (8), if no such appeal is taken; or

(b)the completion of all rights of appeal in any proceedings allowed for under clause (8), if such an appeal is taken and the final order in the matter affirms the tribunal’s recommendations.

(10)Parliament shall enact legislation providing for the procedure of a tribunal appointed under this Article.

Kiswahili

Kuondolewa ofisini

(1)Jaji wa mahakama ya ngazi ya juu anaweza kuondolewa kutoka ofisini tu kwenye misingi ya—

(a)kutoweza kutekeleza majukumu ya ofisi hiyo kutokana na kukosa uwezo wa kiakili au wa kimwili;

(b)kukiuka kanuni za utendakazi zilizowekewa majaji wa mahakama za ngazi ya juu kupitia kwa Sheria ya Bunge;

(c)kufilisika;

(d)kutokuwa na uzoefu unaohitajika; au

(e)mwenendo mbaya zaidi ofisini au tabia mbaya.

(2)Hatua ya kumuondoa jaji inaweza kuanzishwa na Tume ya Huduma za Mahakama kwa kuchukua hatua hiyo kivyake, au kwa ombi au malalamishi ya mtu yeyote, yatakayowasilishwa kwa Tume hii.

(3)Ombi au malalamishi ya mtu kwa Tume ya Huduma za Mahakama chini ya ibara ya (2) yatawasilishwa kwa maandishi, yakiainisha maswala yanayodaiwa kuwa msingi wa kumwondoa jaji.

(4)Tume ya Huduma za Mahakama itaangalia malalamishi hayo na iwapo itaridhika kwamba ombi au malalamishi hayo yanafichua sababu chini ya ibara ya (1), itatuma ombi au malalamishi hayo kwa Rais.

(5)Katika muda wa siku kumi na nne baada ya kupokea malalamishi hayo, Rais atamsimamisha kazi jaji huyo, na kwa kuzingatia ushauri wa Tume ya Huduma za Mahakama—

(a)iwapo itakuwa ni Jaji Mkuu, itateua taasisi iliyo na mamlaka ya mahakama, itakayojumuisha—

(i)Spika wa Bunge la Kitaifa, kama mwenyekiti;

(ii)majaji watatu wa mahakama za ngazi ya juu kutoka nchi zinazotumia mfumo wa sheria wa Jumuiya ya Madola;

(iii)wakili mmoja mwenye uzoefu wa miaka kumi na mitano; na

(iv)watu wengine wawili wenye uzoefu katika masuala ya umma; au

(b)iwapo ni jaji mwingine ambaye sio Jaji Mkuu, itateua taasisi iliyo na mamlaka ya mahakama, itakayojumuisha—

(i)mwenyekiti na wanachama wengine watatu ambao wanahudumu au wamewahi kuhudumu kama jaji wa mahakama ya ngazi ya juu, au ambao wamehitimu kuteuliwa kama jaji wa mahakama ya ngazi ya juu, lakini ambao hawajakuwa wanachama wa Tume ya Huduma za Mahakama katika muda wa miaka mitatu iliyopita;

(ii)wakili mmoja mwenye uzoefu wa miaka kumi na mitano; na

(iii)watu wengine wawili walio na uzoefu katika masuala ya umma.

(6)Licha ya kifungu cha (160) (4), mshahara na marupurupu ya jaji ambaye amesimamishwa kazi chini ya ibara ya (5) yatapunguzwa kwa nusu hadi wakati ambapo jaji huyo ataondolewa au kurudishwa ofisini.

(7)Taasisi iliyoteuliwa chini ya ibara ya (5)—

(a)itakuwa na jukumu la kudhibiti vikao vyake, kwa kuzingatia sheria yoyote inayobainishwa katika ibara ya (10); na

(b)itachunguza suala hilo kwa haraka, kutoa ripoti kuhusu ukweli wa suala hilo, na kuwasilisha mapendekezo ambayo Rais atatekeleza.

(8)Jaji ambaye hajaridhika na uamuzi wa taasisi hiyo chini ya Kifungu hiki anaweza kukata rufaa dhidi ya uamuzi huo kwa Mahakama ya Juu Zaidi ndani ya siku kumi baada ya taasisi hiyo kutoa mapendekezo yake.

(9)Rais atachukua hatua kulingana na mapendekezo yaliyotolewa na taasisi hiyo kufikia mwisho wa—

(a)muda uliotolewa wa kukata rufaa chini ya ibara ya (8), iwapo rufaa kama hiyo haijakatwa; au

(b)kukamilika kwa haki zote za ukataji rufaa katika kesi yoyote inayokubalia ukataji huo wa rufaa chini ya Ibara ya (8), iwapo rufaa kama hiyo imekatwa na uamuzi wa mwisho katika swala hilo unaafikiana na mapendekezo ya taasisi hiyo.

(10)Bunge litatunga sheria itakayotoa mwongozo wa taratibu za taasisi itakayoteuliwa chini ya Kifungu cha hiki.