Chief Justice Koome Responds to Resignation Calls
Chief Justice Martha Koome has addressed calls for her resignation led by former Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Nelson Havi, dismissing the demands as baseless. Speaking on Monday, January 14, outside the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) offices in Nairobi, Koome firmly stated that she would not step down unless her term in office is completed.
Responding to journalists, Koome questioned the reasons behind the calls for her resignation, emphasizing that no valid justification had been presented. She noted that her appointment comes with a defined tenure, and she sees no reason to leave her position prematurely.
“You asked if I would resign; I ask you, why should I resign? I was appointed to serve a specific term, and I have not been provided with any valid reason for stepping down,” she said.
Koome also pointed out that she had not received the petition filed by Havi, which sought the resignation of all seven Supreme Court judges. According to her, the petition may still be in the process of being reviewed.
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“We haven’t received the petition yet. Perhaps it is still being processed. On the seventh, we were present and saw nothing of the sort,” she added.
The Chief Justice reiterated her commitment to tackling corruption within the judiciary. She underlined her belief that public services, including justice, should be free of bribery, as these are funded by taxpayers.
Her remarks followed a petition filed by Havi with the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) on January 13. The petition accused Koome and her colleagues of gross misconduct and incompetence, urging the JSC to recommend that President William Ruto establish a tribunal to investigate the matter.
Havi criticized Koome for allegedly failing to provide effective leadership in the judiciary, contrasting her performance with that of former Chief Justice Evans Gicheru. He claimed that Koome lacked direction and had not upheld the standards expected in her role.
Chief Justice Koome Responds to Resignation Calls
