Judicial Service Files Lawsuit Against Attorney General for Misappropriation of Judges’ Residences The Judicial Service of Kenya has filed a lawsuit against the Attorney General, Kihara Kariuki, and two other individuals, accusing them of unlawfully occupying and using the official residences of two former judges. The lawsuit alleges that Patrick O’Connor, the former Chief Justice, and Jackton Boit, a former Judge of the Court of Appeal, were forced to vacate their residences in 2020 after their terms expired. However, the defendants allegedly took over the properties without legal authority. The Judicial Service claims that the residences are the official entitlement of sitting judges and should have been immediately released upon the retirement of their occupants. The defendants’ actions, they argue, constitute a violation of the Constitution, the Judges and Magistrates Act, and the Judicial Service Code of Conduct. The defendants, according to the lawsuit, have refused to vacate the residences despite being served with several notices and demand letters. They are accused of using the properties for personal gain and depriving the judiciary of its rightful assets. The Judicial Service is seeking a court order to evict the defendants from the residences and recover any rent or other benefits they may have received while occupying the properties. They are also seeking damages for the loss of use of the residences and the associated costs of providing alternative housing for the former judges. The lawsuit has raised concerns about the independence and integrity of the judiciary. The Judicial Service Commission, which is responsible for the administration of the judiciary, has condemned the defendants’ actions as a threat to the rule of law. The Attorney General has not yet responded to the lawsuit. The matter is expected to come up for hearing in the High Court of Kenya in the coming weeks.Judicial Service Sues over Encroachment on Land Opposite US EmbassyJudicial Service Sues over Encroachment on Land Opposite US Embassy The Ghana Judicial Service has filed a lawsuit against the Attorney General, Lands Commission, and an oil company over ongoing developments on a plot of land opposite the US Embassy in Cantonments, Accra. The Judicial Service claims ownership of the land and six bungalows, alleging that these properties are being encroached upon. According to a lawyer for the Judicial Service, the disputed properties have served as residences for several judges in recent times. The lawsuit states that a total of 14 residences, including one belonging to the Robin Batu family, are affected by the encroachment. The Judicial Service seeks to halt the development and recover the property, emphasizing its importance for the judiciary. The legal action requests a declaration that the Judicial Service is the lawful occupant of the land and bungalows and that any purported sale, lease, or disposition of these properties is unconstitutional and illegal. The Service is also seeking general damages, costs, and a perpetual restraining order to prevent the defendants from further development or disposition of the disputed property. This lawsuit highlights the ongoing challenges faced by government institutions in protecting their land and properties from encroachment and illegal development.The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has filed a lawsuit against the Attorney General, Paul Kihara Kariuki, and two other individuals for allegedly usurping the residences of former judges. In the suit filed before the Environment and Land Court in Nairobi, the JSC accuses Kariuki, Mary Wambui Gichuhi, and Patrick Kiburi Mwaniki of illegally occupying and refusing to vacate the residences despite being ordered to do so. According to the JSC, the three individuals were allocated the houses by the former Chief Registrar of the Judiciary, Anne Amadi, who has since retired. However, the JSC argues that the allocation was illegal and that the three individuals do not have any legal right to occupy the houses. The JSC is seeking orders to evict the three individuals from the houses and to declare that they are entitled to occupy the residences. The commission is also seeking damages for the illegal occupation of the houses. The suit comes amidst a long-running dispute between the JSC and the Attorney General’s office over the allocation of houses to former judges. The JSC has accused the Attorney General’s office of interfering with its mandate to manage the affairs of the judiciary. The Attorney General’s office has denied the allegations and has maintained that it is acting within its powers to allocate houses to former judges. The case is expected to be heard on a date that is yet to be set.