Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen on Wednesday held a meeting with Chief Justice Martha Koome to discuss several issues affecting the Judiciary.
The meeting, held at the Supreme Court of Kenya offices in Nairobi, was centred around the critical security challenges facing the Judiciary and judicial officers.
During the meeting, both leaders explored effective mechanisms to enhance preparedness and alertness and ensure that courts remain safe spaces for judges and other judicial officers.
They also discussed ways to engage all justice actors within the criminal justice system to enhance coordination and efficiency in handling criminal cases.
Similarly, CS Mukromen and CJ Koome also deliberated on a potential partnership between the Judiciary and the Ministry of Interior for the implementation of instant traffic fines.
According to CS Murkomen, the instant traffic fines which were introduced about a year ago were aimed at improving safety and security on the roads and decongesting the courts.
"Our discussions centred on collaboration to strengthen the security of the Judiciary and judicial officers. We also discussed partnership on the implementation of instant traffic fines to improve safety and security on our roads and decongest the courts," CS Murkomen revealed.
CJ Koome and CS Murkomen later held a meeting with the National Council on the Administration of Justice (NCAJ) officers. During the meeting, the leaders discussed the need to digitise justice processes to ensure transparency and accountability.
The meeting comes against the backdrop of CJ Koome's sentiments accusing CS Murkomen and the Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja of allegedly withdrawing her security without prior notice.
In a letter dated January 24, and addressed to Murkomen and IG Kanja, CJ Koome termed the move as an act that undermines judicial independence and an insult to the Judiciary.
Koome further said the withdrawal of her security weakened public trust in state institutions and set perilous precedence suggesting that the government institutions could be undermined through external pressure.
"By exposing the office to vulnerabilities through the withdrawal of the security, the ability of the judiciary to perform its constitutional mandate is gravely compromised," Koome noted.
