Chief Justice Martha Koome has taken a swipe at a section of Kenyans using social media platforms to rally for her resignation.
Speaking during the 2024 Annual Human Rights Summit in Nairobi on Tuesday, December 10, CJ Koome admitted to being a victim of cyberbullying and Gender Based Violence (GBV).
While highlighting challenges facing the Judiciary in Kenya, the CJ narrated how several posts were shared through social media targeting her and which she claimed were aimed at threatening and hounding her out of office.
However, Koome reiterated that she would not be intimidated by such posts adding that she was focused on addressing the critical issues facing the Judiciary.
“We have taken note of the cyberbullying and data privacy. When I speak, I always confess that I am a victim of cyberbullying or is it called technologically facilitated Gender-Based Violence (GBV),” Koome said.
“I know it is a business model. I do not know what it is meant to achieve. Maybe to scare me, to destroy me, to defame me, and hound me out of office. But they can try something else,” she added.
To address the surge in GBV cases, the Chief Justice revealed that Judiaicry had already launched 13 gender justice courts to deal with those found culpable of committing gender-related crimes.
She further added that the Judiciary would do everything within its means to ensure that all 47 counties have well-established gender justice courts.
“We are listening to Kenyans. We are serving Kenyans and even our speakers today morning, we have listened to what you have told us and we will deal with that,” Koome assured.
Koome's sentiments came hours after she vowed to streamline the judiciary following criticism from a section of prominent lawyers including Senior Counsel Ahmednasir Abdullahi and PLO Lumumba.
In a statement on Monday, December 9, VJ Koome pledged to open investigations against corrupt Judiciary officers including judges found engaging in illegal activities that compromise the integrity of the courts.
To address the concerns raised by the two lawyers, Martha Koome the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to engage with lawyer Ahmendnasir and address the matter.
“I have directed the Secretary of the JSC to deploy an investigative team drawn from the JSC to engage with Ahmednasir Abdullahi, to obtain particulars of the allegations made on the social media platform X to progress the complaints to the Commission for action,” CJ Koome directed.
