Only last Thursday Chief Justice Martha Koome kicked up a storm after her security was withdrawn.
The withdrawal caused fear and was condemned by many within the civil society.
It showed a picture of the Judiciary that is at the mercy of the Executive, which can be arm-twisted every time one arm is not happy with the decision of the other.
The judiciary, as an institution, needs to maintain its independence because it is the only arm of government that can come to the rescue of the constitution should anything go wrong.
It is the hope of any democracy to have an independent Judiciary. Though this is guaranteed in the constitution, the Executive has always tried to punish the Judiciary or arm-twist it one way or the other.
It is time the CJ and judges thought outside the box and looked for ways to invest in their security separate from police to guard the institution of the Judiciary.
Either they outsource the service to private companies or enter into a contract with police to ensure the IG will not have control over officers seconded to the Judiciary.
This will protect the independence of the Judiciary and clip wings of the Executive.
HISTORICAL QUOTE
“The cry of the poor is not always
just, but if you don’t listen to it, you
will never know what justice is.”
HOWARD ZINN
The American historian died on January 27, 2010
