CJ Koome calls for restoration of integrity and trust in Judiciary

Amid rising concerns over corruption, loss of integrity and trust, Chief Justice Martha Koome has reaffirmed the Judiciary’s commitment in delivering justice to the public.

Speaking in Wote, Makueni County today (Tuesday) during the launch of the Mahakama Popote Guidelines, the Chief Justice highlighted the progress made since the rollout of the platform in October 2022.

She noted that a total of 17,389 case referrals, with 12,940 cases resolved and 4,449 still cases are still pending. She emphasized that these figures reflect the transformative potential of technology in enhancing access to justice.

However, Justice Koome also addressed a critical challenge of corruption within court registries.

She acknowledged receiving numerous reports about a pervasive culture of ‘facilitation’ where court users are expected to pay unofficial fees to access services that should be freely available. “This is unacceptable,” she stated firmly.

“Our work is a public trust. Court staff are already paid to serve the people, and the salaries they earn each month are the only entitlement for the services they provide. We must ensure that no one is asked to pay anything extra in their pursuit of justice,” CJ Martha Koome said.

She called for urgent action to eliminate this unethical practice and restore integrity and trust in the Judiciary.

CJ Koome added, “We must root out this culture and reaffirm our commitment to a justice system that is fair, transparent, and accountable.”