NAIROBI, Kenya- Chief Justice Martha Koome has announced plans to hold a high-level consultative meeting with legal professionals, including Prof. PLO Lumumba, to address mounting allegations of corruption within Kenya’s Judiciary.
The meeting, set to include representatives from the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), the Senior Counsel Bar, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), and court heads, aims to tackle integrity issues and restore public trust in the legal system.
At the core of the discussion will be the development of a comprehensive strategy to address complaints from both the public and the legal profession.
Chief Justice Koome emphasized that actionable complaints with sufficient detail will be prioritized for immediate investigation by the JSC.
“This meeting will provide an opportunity to discuss concerns about integrity within the Judiciary and the legal profession, while also updating the public on mechanisms adopted to combat corruption,” Koome stated.
The Chief Justice also revealed plans to present updates on ongoing complaints before the JSC, further demonstrating the Judiciary’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
The consultative meeting follows allegations of judicial bribery raised by Senior Counsel Ahmednasir Abdullahi. Abdullahi accused judicial officers in Mombasa of accepting bribes for favorable rulings, a practice he dubbed “JurisPesa.”
Koome has directed the JSC’s investigative team to engage directly with Abdullahi to substantiate his claims.
However, she noted that the accusations lacked key details, such as the identities of the alleged perpetrators.
To ensure impartiality, the Chief Justice referred the matter to various investigative bodies, including the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
“I urge Ahmednasir Abdullahi, SC, to cooperate with the JSC officers if his allegations are made in good faith to promote an open and transparent Judiciary,” Koome said.
Prof. PLO Lumumba’s call for the meeting came in a letter dated December 5, urging immediate action to restore the Judiciary’s integrity. He expressed concern over Kenya’s reputation abroad, stating that judicial corruption is a recurring topic of discussion during his international travels.
“The allegations in the public domain can no longer be dismissed. It is time for the Judicial Service Commission to act decisively,” Lumumba wrote.
Koome’s decision to convene the meeting marks a shift in her approach. Previously, she dismissed Abdullahi’s allegations as baseless and criticized the gender bias underlying some of the attacks on her leadership.
