Chief Justice Martha Koome has told off critics, who she said have been trying all sorts of tricks to push her out of office.
Speaking during the opening of the Inaugural High Court Human Rights Summit in Nairobi, Koome said she has always been a victim of cyberbullying.
She noted that while she knows it is business for some of the cyberbullies, she does not understand what their end goals are.
The Chief Justice went on to say that if their aim is to scare her, distract her from delivering on her mandate or get her to resign, she is going nowhere.
“When I speak I always confess that I'm a victim of cyberbullying or is it called technologically facilitated Gender Based Violence. But I know the intention. It's a business model, I don’t know to achieve what. Maybe to scare, distract, defame and hound me out of office but they can try something else,” Koome said.
Koome, however, did not name who these people are even as she condemned such acts.
This comes even as the judiciary has been under constant attacks by various people, including prominent lawyers in the country and human rights organisations.
Koome reaffirmed the judiciary’s commitment to fighting corruption in the country.
She said the vice has eaten the fabric of the society and must be addressed, despite efforts by the people involved to fight back.
She said that despite the many existential threats the judiciary faces coupled with underfunding, that will not deter the institution from serving the people of Kenya.
“We in the judiciary occupy a special role of ensuring that we protect our society from these corrupt practices.”
Koome reiterated the judiciary’s commitment to upholding the rights of citizens.
He cited the case instances during the Gen Z protests where the High Court of Kenya courageously intervened to chart a delicate balance between law enforcement and the constitutional right to peaceful protests.
“By holding law enforcement accountable and upholding citizens’ rights, the High Court showcased a judicial system that is not only robust but also conscious of its role as a defender of democracy and fundamental freedoms.
“The High Court’s proactive application of the right to
habeas corpus is another commendable example. In cases involving enforced
disappearances and extrajudicial actions, the Court has not hesitated to issue
orders compelling law enforcement agencies to produce individuals unlawfully
detained,” the CJ said.
