Chief Justice Martha Karambu Koome, has revealed a security threat that compelled the government to create a police unit comprising of 3000 police officers to protect the Judiciary and its officers.
Speaking to a local media house on Thursday, September 2, Koome noted that the move to beef up the judges' security was informed by intelligence she received about individuals who wanted to bomb the Judiciary premises but were intercepted before they could carry out that heinous act.
"If you look at this building (referring to the Supreme Court where she sits) we were just sitting ducks," she started.
"I was told there were people who even attempted to come and bomb this building (Supreme Court) but they were intercepted far away."
She added that some judges felt insecure in the courtrooms, giving instances where some charged individuals would show up with guns leaving them vulnerable.
“Magistrates in Milimani once told me that they felt very insecure because of the kind of cases they handle, they even mentioned that people charged there enter with guns in their pockets and there’s nothing they can do about it,” she stated.
She detailed that those were some of the reasons as to why she approached the security heads in the country and pushed for the establishment of the Judicial Police Unit.
Her efforts paid off as the police unit was established to guarantee all judicial officers of their safety and is currently led by a police commissioner and a contingent of 3,000 officers.
“I engaged the Inspector General of Police, Hilary Mutyambai, and Interior Cabinet Secretary, Fred Matiang’i, and requested we also be accorded a police unit just like other arms of government that included Parliament and Railways,” she remarked
According to Koome, the push for the Judicial Police Unit has been in the pipeline for almost 10 years.
On the judges adherence to the law, Koome argued that they are equally answerable to the public and that they are not above the law.
Furthermore, Koome stated the members of the public are at liberty to seek audience with the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) in case of a complaint.
“They will call them and hear them out, if it shows that an offense is demonstrated then they can take action,” she said.
On the unprecedented interrogation of Justices Aggrey Muchelule and Said Juma Chitembwe, the Chief Justice stated she has proposed a framework that will guide all the security and investigative agencies on how to deal with the judges.
“After dialogue, the JSC, the Interior Ministry CS and the Inspector General of Police have since come up with a committee to work on the guidelines. It will soon be presented to Kenyan’s when ready and they too can give their views on how they would want to see judges and magistrates dealt with if they break the law,” said CJ.
