The Judiciary has dismissed as fake a letter circulating on social media and purportedly authored by Chief Justice Martha Koome, saying it was neither written nor issued by the Chief Justice, her office, nor any authorized organ of the Judiciary.
In a public notice issued on Sunday, the Judiciary said it had noted the document, which claimed to outline alleged attempts to interfere with the independence of the Supreme Court in a matter linked to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
“The Judiciary wishes to categorically state that the letter is FAKE,” the institution said.
The Judiciary warned that the deliberate fabrication and circulation of purported official communication was a serious matter, particularly when it sought to attribute positions to the institution that it had neither taken nor expressed.
Viral Letter Makes Claims Over Gachagua Supreme Court Battle
According to the fake document, the Judicial Service Commission had allegedly received a formal complaint from Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu accusing former Deputy President Gachagua of attempting to influence a pending constitutional petition before the Supreme Court concerning the eligibility of impeached public officials to contest elective office.
The letter further purported that Gachagua had approached former Chief Justice David Maraga and Senior Counsel Kalonzo Musyoka to influence the outcome of the matter and claimed that disciplinary and criminal investigations had been initiated.
However, the Judiciary said no such communication had originated from the Chief Justice or any authorised Judiciary office.
The institution expressed concern over attempts to invoke the name and authority of the Chief Justice to advance political narratives and partisan interests.
The Judiciary said it remains an independent arm of government constitutionally mandated to exercise judicial authority independently and impartially.
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It noted that its institutional position cannot be manufactured, attributed or appropriated for political purposes.
“The name, office and authority of the Chief Justice must not be misrepresented to lend credibility to political messaging or misinformation,” the statement said.
The Judiciary urged members of the public, media practitioners and stakeholders to verify any communication attributed to the Chief Justice or the Judiciary through official channels before relying on it or disseminating it further.
Also, the institution also advised the public to disregard both the fabricated letter and any narratives arising from it.
Public Urged to Verify Information
The Judiciary said official communication should come only through its established channels to prevent the spread of misinformation.
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It reiterated that it would continue discharging its constitutional mandate with independence, impartiality and fidelity to the Constitution and the law.
“The Judiciary will continue to discharge its constitutional mandate with independence, impartiality and fidelity to the Constitution and the law, guided by the principles of integrity, institutional responsibility and public accountability,” the statement said.
The institution maintained that any communication attributed to the Chief Justice should be verified before being shared, warning that fabricated documents risk misleading the public and undermining confidence in constitutional institutions.
The matter comes as Gachagua has challenged the High Court’s June 8 judgment upholding his impeachment.
While a three-judge bench found that the Senate violated his right to a fair hearing by declining to adjourn proceedings despite his absence, it declined to overturn his removal from office and instead awarded him Ksh50 million in constitutional damages.
Gachagua has since moved to the Court of Appeal seeking to have the impeachment declared unconstitutional and void.
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