By Evans Dakwa
The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has officially announced that Chief Justice Luke Malaba will retire from the bench on 15 May 2026, ending a judicial career spanning four decades.
In a press statement , the JSC confirmed that Justice Malaba’s last working day will be at midnight on 14 May. His retirement follows the conclusion of a five-year extension of his tenure, which he elected upon reaching the constitutional retirement age of 70 in 2021.
The retirement is in line with Section 186(1) of the Constitution, which mandates that a Chief Justice must retire at 70 unless they choose to continue for an additional five years.
To mark his departure, the JSC will be organising commemorative events on 14 May, including a special sitting of the court and a formal dinner. The dinner is expected to be attended by judicial colleagues, representatives from the Executive and Legislature, and regional counterparts.
The statement also addressed what it called “misrepresentations” in sections of the media. The JSC strongly denied reports that the Chief Justice had “refused” to take pre-retirement leave, clarifying that such leave is discretionary, not a legal requirement.
“Characterising the exercise of a lawful discretion as a ‘refusal’ is erroneous and creates a false impression of impropriety,” the commission stated.
It further dismissed suggestions that no transition preparations were underway, affirming that all procedures would follow constitutional provisions and established practice.
The JSC called for accurate reporting on judicial matters and urged the concerned newspaper to publish a correction.
Justice Malaba has served as a Magistrate, Judge, Judge of Appeal, and Chief Justice since beginning his legal career in the 1980s.
