Chief Justice Martha Koome has clarified that her comments following the burning of Kikuyu Law Courts were strictly about that incident and were not meant to endorse the DPP’s move to charge anti-government protesters with terrorism offenses.
Highlights
- CJ Koome distances herself from DPP’s terrorism charges against protesters.
- Says her statement referred only to Kikuyu Law Courts arson.
- Assures judiciary’s commitment to impartiality and rule of law.
Main Story
Chief Justice Martha Koome has addressed growing criticism over her earlier remarks that were perceived as supporting the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in charging protesters with terrorism-related offenses.
Koome clarified that her comments were specific to the arson attack on Kikuyu Law Courts, which caused extensive damage to judicial infrastructure, and not connected to the broader protest-related cases.
The CJ emphasized that the judiciary remains impartial and committed to upholding the Constitution. She stated that court decisions are based on evidence and law, not public or political pressure.
The clarification comes after public outcry and speculation that her remarks signaled judicial alignment with the executive in handling protest cases. Several civil society groups and legal practitioners had demanded clarification to protect judicial independence.
“My remarks were about the Kikuyu incident only – not about ongoing protest cases,” Koome clarified, signaling the judiciary’s effort to maintain neutrality amid heated political debates.
