Chief Justice Martha Koome has bowed to pressure mounted by Senior Counsel Ahmednasir Abdullahi over allegations of the Judiciary accepting bribes to dispense justice.
The claims, which have sparked public interest, accuse unnamed judges and alleged intermediaries of engaging in bribery.
In a statement, CJ Koome noted this was brought to her attention by lawyer PLO Lumumba.
However, she indicated that the allegations lacked specifics, such as the identities of the implicated judges or the intermediaries purportedly involved.
“I received a letter from Prof. PLO Lumumba urging action on the state of the judiciary, particularly, alleged incidents of corruption.
“I restate that Judges, Judicial Officers and staff are required to uphold the highest ethical standards in keeping with our oath of office while appreciating the recognition by Prof. PLO Lumumba that we are witness to the “best efforts and best intentions of the best judicial officers,” stated CJ Martha Koome.
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Drawing attention to a previous case involving actionable allegations by former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko, the statement emphasized that the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) had acted promptly in addressing those claims to their conclusion.
Furthermore, to ensure accountability and transparency, the Chief Justice has directed the Secretary of the JSC to deploy an investigative team to engage directly with Ahmednasir Abdullahi.
“I ask Ahmednasir Abdullahi, SC to cooperate with the officers from the JSC if indeed the allegations made are in good faith and with a view to ensuring that the Judiciary operates in an open and transparent manner for the benefit of all Kenyans,” read the statement in part.
However, the lawyer has responded saying that he will not cooperate unless the investigation includes the chief justice.
“I will not cooperate!!! I will only cooperate if the investigation also touches on the 7 judges (or at least 4) of the Supreme Court, including CJ Koome.
“That is the only time I will share all my classified files on JurisPESA,” he stated.
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PLO Lumunba’s Letter Sent to NIS
Additionally, CJ Martha Koome has forwarded concerns raised by Senior Counsel Ahmednasir Abdullahi and referenced in a letter from Prof. PLO Lumumba to multiple investigative agencies.
These include the National Intelligence Service (NIS), the Inspector General of Police, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
According to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), the move seeks to ensure in-depth investigations and pave the way for constitutional and legal provisions.
In response to Prof. Lumumba’s request for dialogue, the Chief Justice has convened a high-level consultative meeting to discuss persistent concerns about judicial integrity.
The meeting will bring together key stakeholders, including the President of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and its council, the Chairperson of the Senior Counsel Bar, members of the Senior Counsel Bar, Heads of Courts, and members of the JSC.
The agenda of the meeting will focus on developing a Clear Roadmap, progress updates on current complaints and enhancing transparency and Accountability.
“This will involve outlining existing mechanisms within the Judiciary to combat corruption and promote accountability.”
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