Chief Justice Martha Koome has hit back at claims propagated by President William Ruto and his allies, alleging that some officers from the Judiciary have been operating with impunity.
In a strong-worded statement on Wednesday, the Supreme Court President called upon all Kenyans to report any act that threatens the integrity of the judicial processes and allow JSC to investigate them.
She noted with concern that Judges and Judicial Officers were subjected to public criticism for issuing court orders that were perceived to be against State programmes and policies.
Thus, Koome warned that the Judiciary was an independent and co-equal arm of government. She also urged all Judges and Judicial Officers to continue performing their judicial duties without fear or favour.
"The Commission wishes to draw the attention of State and Public Officers to the fact that the Constitution places positive duties on the State to ensure respect for the law and adherence to the law by providing citizens with effective mechanisms for resolving disputes between themselves and between them and the State.
"Where a citizen obtains a court order against the State and that court order is deliberately ignored or disobeyed by State officials, the right of access to justice is undermined because it fatally attacks the effectiveness of the legal system on which ordinary citizens rely to have their rights and legal duties enforced," Koome stated.
She further assured that the Judiciary Service Commission (JSC) kept the Judiciary in order and that any judges or magistrates with questionable behaviour would be investigated promptly.
"The JSC assures all Kenyans that any allegations or complaints of misconduct or corruption by any Judge or Judicial Officer will be dealt with firmly and swiftly in accordance with the Constitution," read the statement in part.
"The JSC has a proven record of taking action against any judicial officer who is found to have breached the Judicial Code of Conduct and Ethics or engaged in corrupt practices. The JSC therefore encourages anyone with information on any act that threatens the integrity of judicial processes and outcomes to report any such cases to the JSC for determinate action."
In a speech targeted at the judiciary while in Nyandarua on Tuesday, the President stated that beneficiaries of corruption had teamed up with corrupt judicial officers to deny Kenyans development.
“Our Judiciary, we respect you but judicial impunity by corrupt judicial officers must stop in Kenya...we’ll stop it and whatever it takes,” the president had said.
The utterances by the president have received condemnation from many quarters with the president of the Law Society of Kenya calling for nationwide peaceful protest next week.
