NAIROBI, Kenya – Chief Justice Martha Koome has condemned the withdrawal of her security detail and the reduction of officers assigned to the Judiciary Police Unit, calling the move a constitutional violation and a threat to judicial independence.
In a letter to Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Inspector-General of Police Douglas Kanja, Koome described the decision as an “egregious affront” to the principle of separation of powers.
“The withdrawal of this security detail is an egregious affront to the principle of separation of powers. Such an action not only weakens trust in public institutions but also sets a perilous precedent, suggesting that key constitutional offices can be undermined through external pressure or retaliation,” the Chief Justice said.
The Judiciary Police Unit, established in 2021 under the National Police Service, was intended to safeguard judicial officers and court operations.
However, recent decisions to reduce its capacity have sparked alarm within legal circles and the broader public.
Koome warned that the reduction of security for her office and other judicial officers exposes them to vulnerabilities, undermining the Judiciary’s ability to carry out its constitutional mandate effectively.
“This action not only exacerbates existing vulnerabilities but also jeopardises the security of judicial personnel and spaces across the country, thereby undermining the entire justice system’s operational efficacy,” she stated.
BREAKING: Chief Justice Martha Koome’s security detail withdrawn, says move undermines judicial independence, threatens institutional integrity
The Chief Justice has called for the immediate reinstatement of her security detail and a comprehensive reinforcement of the Judiciary Police Unit.
Judiciary Security Under Threat
This controversy comes amid heightened security concerns following the tragic murder of Principal Magistrate Monica Kivuti in June 2024.
Magistrate Kivuti was shot in open court by Londiani police chief Samson Kipruto, who was reportedly angered by her decision to deny his wife bail.
Kipruto was killed by Judiciary Police Unit officers after the attack.
The murder led to public outcry and renewed calls for an autonomous Judiciary Police Unit to shield judicial officers from external threats.
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) echoed these demands, emphasising the critical need for enhanced security measures in courtrooms nationwide.
CJ Koome reiterated this position, saying, “The capacity of the Judiciary Police Unit must be strengthened, not diminished, to address the pressing need for enhanced judicial security in a rapidly evolving environment and against the precedent of open attacks on judges and judicial officers in open court.”
The withdrawal of Chief Justice Koome’s security detail marks the second instance of a senior judge being left exposed in recent months.
In September, High Court Judge Lawrence Mugambi’s security was removed shortly after he sentenced acting Inspector-General of Police Gilbert Masengeli to six months in prison for contempt of court.
Justice Mugambi had cited Masengeli’s failure to appear in court to explain the abduction of three men in Kitengela.
The incident raised questions about the independence of the Judiciary and whether such actions were being used as tools of intimidation.
The Judiciary has since raised concerns that such decisions not only compromise judicial independence but also embolden attacks on judicial officers.
