Legal ForumExample Category: LSK Kajiado ForumChief Justice Koome Warns of Thre …Post Reply

Post Reply: Chief Justice Koome Warns of Threats to Judicial Independence from Online Attacks

<blockquote><div class="quotetitle">Quote from <a class="profile-link highlight-moderator" href="https://lawguide.co.ke/understanding-law/legal-forum/profile/lawyer/">Lawyer</a> on August 20, 2025, 6:01 am</div><div id="pl-7602"  class="panel-layout" ><div id="pg-7602-0"  class="panel-grid panel-no-style" ><div id="pgc-7602-0-0"  class="panel-grid-cell"  data-weight="1" ><div id="panel-7602-0-0-0" class="so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child" data-index="0" data-style="{&quot;background_image_attachment&quot;:false,&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;,&quot;background_image_size&quot;:&quot;full&quot;,&quot;background_image_opacity&quot;:&quot;100&quot;,&quot;border_thickness&quot;:&quot;1px&quot;}" ><div
			
			class="so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base"
			
		>
<div class="siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget">
	<p dir="ltr" data-pm-slice="1 1 []">In a powerful address at the 2025 Judges’ Colloquium in Nairobi on August 18, 2025, Chief Justice Martha Koome raised a critical alarm over the escalating wave of cyberbullying and orchestrated online campaigns targeting Kenya’s judicial officers. Speaking to an audience of judges, legal professionals, and stakeholders, Koome described these digital attacks as a deliberate attempt to undermine the moral authority of the Judiciary and intimidate judges into compromising their rulings. She warned that such actions pose a severe threat to judicial independence, a cornerstone of Kenya’s democratic system, and risk eroding public confidence in the justice system.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Koome highlighted that social media platforms, while valuable for public discourse and information sharing, have increasingly become tools for harassment and defamation of judges. Over the past year, she noted a troubling trend of targeted cyberbullying and coordinated online campaigns aimed at judicial officers. These attacks, she emphasized, are not mere criticism but calculated efforts to pressure judges into aligning their decisions with political or commercial interests rather than upholding the Constitution and the rule of law. This sustained onslaught, if left unchecked, could create a chilling effect, where judges may feel coerced into making rulings driven by external pressures rather than legal principles.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The Chief Justice’s concerns have garnered international attention. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has expressed alarm over the cyberattacks and is considering deploying a Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers to Kenya for a fact-finding mission. Koome welcomed this potential intervention, noting that an external assessment would provide valuable global perspectives on strengthening judicial resilience against digital intimidation. She stressed that judicial independence encompasses not only freedom from political or external control but also protection from digital harassment and physical threats.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Despite these challenges, Koome celebrated the Judiciary’s remarkable progress in enhancing efficiency and access to justice. She revealed that the Supreme Court achieved a 103 percent case clearance rate in the 2024/2025 financial year, resolving more cases than it received. This milestone reflects the Judiciary’s commitment to its Social Transformation through Access to Justice (STAJ) blueprint. Other courts also reported significant improvements: the Court of Appeal reached a 76 percent clearance rate, the High Court achieved 118 percent, the Employment and Labour Relations Court recorded 132 percent, and the Environment and Land Court hit 116 percent. These gains, Koome noted, demonstrate the Judiciary’s growing efficiency in case management.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The adoption of digital tools has been instrumental in these achievements. The Judiciary has implemented initiatives such as e-filing, the Integrated Case Management System, an AI-supported National Transcription Centre, the Judiciary e-App, and the Kenya Judiciary Academy e-learning platform. These innovations have streamlined judicial processes and improved service delivery. However, Koome acknowledged that technology, while transformative, has also exposed the Judiciary to new vulnerabilities, particularly through social media attacks.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Koome also addressed broader challenges facing the Judiciary, including physical and administrative threats to its independence. In recent months, the withdrawal of security details for senior judicial officers, including Koome herself and High Court Judge Lawrence Mugambi, has sparked widespread concern. The Kenya Magistrates’ and Judges’ Association condemned the withdrawal of Koome’s security as a “retributive attack” on the Judiciary, arguing that it violates the constitutional principle of separation of powers. Similarly, the removal of Judge Mugambi’s security, shortly after he sentenced Acting Police Inspector General Gilbert Masengeli to six months in prison for contempt of court, was described as an act of intimidation. Koome called for the immediate restoration of these security measures, emphasizing that judges’ safety is a non-negotiable benefit essential for their ability to perform their duties without fear.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The Chief Justice also faced criticism over her leadership, with a petition filed by former Law Society of Kenya President Nelson Havi seeking her removal for alleged misconduct in assigning judges to a case involving the Supreme Court and the Judicial Service Commission. Havi argued that Koome’s actions constituted a conflict of interest and compromised judicial independence. Koome has denied these allegations, asserting that her decisions align with constitutional mandates and that some criticisms are rooted in gender bias. She has also taken steps to address corruption allegations within the Judiciary, directing the Judicial Service Commission to investigate claims of bribery and misconduct, including those raised by Senior Counsel Ahmednasir Abdullahi.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Koome’s remarks at the colloquium underscored her unwavering commitment to upholding the rule of law. She urged judges to remain steadfast in their duties, describing the Judiciary as the “last line of defense” for justice, rights, and constitutional principles. She called on stakeholders, including the public, government, and international partners, to collaborate in safeguarding judicial independence. Koome also highlighted the Judiciary’s efforts to address societal issues, such as femicide, and its ongoing initiatives to create a child-friendly justice system, including a pilot program for court-annexed psychosocial support.</p>
<p dir="ltr">As Kenya navigates these challenges, Koome’s leadership continues to emphasize resilience, accountability, and technological advancement. Her call to action serves as a reminder that protecting judicial independence is not only a matter for judges but a shared responsibility for all Kenyans committed to upholding democracy and the rule of law.</p>
</div>
</div></div></div></div></div></blockquote><br>

Cancel

Legal Forums

Post Reply: Chief Justice Koome Warns of Threats to Judicial Independence from Online Attacks

Recent Posts

Crisis at Kenyatta National Hospital: Senators Demand Action on Overcrowding and Security Failures

Court Orders Equal Pay for UHC Nurses Amid Absorption Plan