Judiciary will enforce zero-tolerance to corruption without fear or favour - CJ Koome
Koome acknowledged that allegations of corruption continue to surface in some court stations, a situation she said must be addressed decisively.
Chief Justice Martha Koome has reaffirmed the Judiciary’s commitment to fighting corruption, saying the institution will not tolerate unethical practices in any form.
She announced the adoption of a new intelligence-based strategy to combat graft, involving partnerships with the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the National Intelligence Service (NIS).
More To Read
Speaking on the issue on Tuesday, Koome acknowledged that allegations of corruption continue to surface in some court stations, a situation she said must be addressed decisively.
“These allegations are deeply concerning and cannot be ignored. I want to state once again, unequivocally, that the Judiciary is a corruption-free zone, and we must implement this policy through both words and actions,” she said.
The Chief Justice explained that while the Judiciary has previously relied on complaints filed with the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and the Judiciary Ombudsman to handle corruption cases, this approach has its limitations.
The new intelligence-driven model, she noted, will allow authorities to proactively identify patterns, hotspots, and individuals involved in corrupt activities and intervene early.
“We are now complementing the complaints approach with an intelligence-based model that involves working closely with the EACC and NIS. This partnership allows us to proactively identify patterns, hotspots, and individuals who may be engaging in corrupt practices and to intervene early,” Koome stated.
The CJ pointed out that the Judiciary has adopted a zero-tolerance stance on corruption and will enforce it without bias.
"We have adopted a zero tolerance policy to corruption, and we are determined to enforce it without fear or favour" - Chief Justice Martha Koome pic.twitter.com/DzaQwaFQTg
— Hon. Justice Martha K. Koome, FCIArb, EGH (@CJMarthaKoome) March 25, 2025
1
“We have adopted a zero-tolerance policy on corruption, and we are determined to enforce it without fear or favour,” she asserted.
Koome further linked inefficiencies in court operations to corruption, particularly the frequent adjournments that delay justice and frustrate the public.
The Chief Justice criticized the common practice of scheduling excessive cases in a single day, which often leads to postponements.
“I have seen some court lists with as many as 50 cases. This practice results in unnecessary delays, and in many instances, some cases are not even heard. This is unfair to litigants and advocates who spend an entire day in court only to return home unheard,” Koome said.
To ensure efficiency and fairness, she urged judicial officers to manage their caseloads realistically and schedule only the number of cases they can handle each day.
“As judicial officers, we must ensure that we only list a manageable number of cases each day, guided by our capacity to hear and conclude them,” Koome stated.
Describing this moment as critical for reform, the Chief Justice called for a renewed commitment to integrity and efficiency in the Judiciary.
“This is a moment of reckoning, an opportunity for deep reflection and reform. It compels us to reaffirm our commitment to the values of integrity and efficiency that define our calling to serve justice to the public,” Koome said.
She assured the public that the Judiciary is actively working to eliminate corruption and administrative inefficiencies, ensuring that justice is both timely and transparent
Top Stories Today
