CJ Martha Koome defends Judiciary, warns against defiance of court orders
Koome said the courts' authority has come under pressure from politicians and critics who undermine judges whose decisions do not favour them. She likened the threats and rhetoric to an era when the Judiciary’s authority was routinely eroded.
Chief Justice Martha Koome has emphasised that no one, including the government, has the right to defy or selectively obey court orders, stressing that all grievances with judicial rulings must be addressed through lawful channels such as appeals or reviews.
Speaking on Thursday at the annual Law Society of Kenya (LSK) conference in Diani, Kwale County, Koome said the courts' authority has come under pressure from politicians and critics who undermine judges whose decisions do not favour them. She likened the threats and rhetoric to an era when the Judiciary’s authority was routinely eroded.
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“My position has been unequivocal. Any party aggrieved by a judicial decision, even the government, must seek redress through appeals or reviews, not through defiance or vilification of judges or judicial officers. No one has the right to choose which court orders to obey and which to ignore,” Koome stated.
The Chief Justice defended the Judiciary’s handling of protest-related cases, noting that courts have consistently granted bail and bond to accused persons. In cases where parties were dissatisfied with bond terms, she said the High Court had reviewed them.
“Anticipatory bail is not a Kenyan invention, nor does it amount to judicial endorsement of crime. The Judiciary is a fact finder guided by evidence,” added LSK President Faith Odhiambo, who also addressed the conference.
Koome stressed that judicial independence does not shield officers from accountability, underscoring her zero-tolerance stance on corruption.
She noted that the Judiciary had launched a mobile app to make it easier for the public to report bribery attempts.
The CJ also praised Gen-Z protesters for standing up for their rights and called for urgent attention to issues raised during demonstrations, including alleged abductions.
"The concerns being raised, we must continue to address them…the concerns on abductions…and we have also sworn to defend the Constitution," she said.
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