He alluded to the recent withdrawal of Koome’s security, terming it as one of the state’s strategy to scare the CJ and push her into resignation. “We have seen a scheme to remove Chief Justice Martha Koome from office,” he added.
“Parliament has been captured, the opposition has been neutered, if now they capture the Judiciary through the removal of Martha Koome and the Supreme Court judges, this country will slip into a dictatorship.”
Recently, CJ Koome’s security was withdrawn and later reinstated in what Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen termed as a routine process within the National Police Service (NPS). He noted that Koome’s security personel were due for promotions and subsequent training.
On Friday, January 24, Murkomen however criticised the CJ for oversharing details surrounding the withdrawal of her security as she lamented on Thursday evening, January 23.
The CS assured CJ Koome that she was safe, clarifying that only three of her 29 security officers were withdrawn and that the security officers had been promoted and had left for training, shutting down claims of a scheme against her.
“When officers are promoted, they need to undergo training. Unfortunately, the Chief Justice went too public about this issue. However, I assured her that the matter would be resolved,” he stated.
“This was a minor issue that should not have been escalated. The CJ remains adequately protected with about 29 officers, and her safety, as well as that of other judges, is guaranteed.”
Another controversy that has struck the Supreme Court in recent weeks is a petition by former Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Nelson Havi who wants Koome and other Supreme Court judges removed over alleged gross misconduct.
Havi also accued the judges of misbehaviour among other issues, urging the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to compel President Ruto to form a tribunal and begin the process of firing the seven judges.