National Land Commission Vice Chairperson Julie Oseko is facing an organized campaign by civil society activists and internal staff to remove her from office over allegations of gross misconduct.
The campaign is currently assembling a formal case against her, with some observers suggesting she may choose to step down rather than fight the claims to the end.
The claims against Oseko center on allegations of abusing her office and intimidating staff within the commission. According to reporting by kenyanhour, Oseko is accused of contacting senior managers whose employment contracts are expiring and offering renewals in exchange for favorable treatment.
If proven, this would mean public servants are being forced to protect a sitting commissioner rather than being judged on their job performance.
Reports also state that Oseko has repeatedly summoned both junior and senior staff to her office and held them there for hours, which insiders describe as a pattern of intimidation.
Further unproven claims reported by the publication cover her personal conduct and relationships with staff. Oseko has not had the chance to respond to these claims in the published report, and the allegations have not been tested in court or before a tribunal.
Internal tension within the National Land Commission has reportedly been building for some time. Publication reports indicate that this friction comes partly from Oseko struggling to separate the role of commissioners from the role of the secretariat. Oseko has responded to the growing pressure by claiming that powerful outside forces are working against her. She has also suggested that people from her own ethnic community are being used by external groups to force her out.
Oseko was sworn into office in March this year alongside six other commissioners, forming the third full bench to lead the National Land Commission since it was established under the current constitution in 2013. The commission consists of Chairperson Abdillahi Alawy, Vice Chairperson Oseko, and commissioners Susan Oyatsi, Daniel Muriungi, Vincent Cheruiyot, Mohamed Abdi, and Mary Seneta.
All seven members were nominated by the President and approved by the National Assembly. Before joining the commission, Oseko built a legal career in the Judiciary lasting over thirty years, serving as Chief Magistrate and Head of Station at the Malindi Law Courts and later as Deputy Registrar of the High Court.
The process for removing a commissioner is defined under Article 251 of the Constitution of Kenya and the National Land Commission Act. The law sets strict and narrow grounds for removal, which include gross misconduct, serious violation of the Constitution or another law, physical or mental incapacity, incompetence, or bankruptcy. Anyone trying to remove a sitting commissioner must draft a formal petition with specific facts and present it to the National Assembly.
When the National Assembly receives a petition, it reviews the facts to decide whether they show a valid reason for removal under the law. If Parliament finds valid grounds, it forwards the petition to the President.
The President can then suspend the commissioner while the matter is investigated. Under the legal framework, a suspended commissioner still receives half of her salary and half of her benefits during the suspension period to protect her livelihood before any guilt is proven.
The President must then appoint a tribunal to investigate the allegations in detail. The tribunal reviews the claims, gathers findings, and gives a binding recommendation to the President. The head of state must follow the tribunal’s final recommendation and cannot make an independent political decision. Currently, the action against Oseko remains in its early stages, as the petition is still being prepared and has not yet reached Parliament. Should the petition be filed, it will give Oseko a clear legal path to defend herself before the tribunal and the President.
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