Judiciary will stand firm as guardian of rule of law, says CJ Koome

Chief Justice Martha Koome has assured Kenyans that the Judiciary will continue to stand firm as the ultimate guardian of the rule of law.

Koome stated that judges and judicial officers will remain steadfast in upholding constitutional values and delivering justice without fear, favour, bias, or ill will.

“I wish to assure the nation that even in these trying times for our democracy, the Judiciary will continue to stand firm as the ultimate guardian of the rule of law. Our judges and judicial officers will remain steadfast in their role as stewards of justice, resolving disputes impartially, upholding constitutional values, and applying the law fairly, without fear, favour, bias, or ill will,” she said.

Her remarks come ahead of tomorrow’s planned protests to honour victims of the 2024 Gen Z-led demonstrations.

The Chief Justice made the remarks in Wote, Makueni County, on Tuesday during the launch of the Mahakama Popote guidelines for the Magistrates’ Courts, Kadhis’ Courts, and Small Claims Courts.

She revealed that since its rollout, the Mahakama Popote platform had processed 17,389 case referrals by March 2025, with 12,940 cases concluded and 4,449 still pending, progress she said signals the transformative power of technology in the justice system.

“Mahakama Popote has enabled us to leverage technology to allow judicial officers to hear and determine cases filed in any part of the country, regardless of their physical station,” said Koome.

However, the Chief Justice also sounded the alarm over rampant corruption in court registries, including demands for bribes disguised as “facilitation” fees for services that should be free.

“This is unacceptable,” she said. “Our work is a public trust. Court staff are already paid to serve the people, and the salaries they earn each month are the only entitlement for the services they provide.”

The Chief Justice acknowledged public frustration over delays in court processes noting that many Kenyans want quicker resolution of their cases.

“The expectation is that cases filed in court should be resolved without undue delay. Litigants do not want to keep returning to court year after year without resolution. They deserve closure, finality, and certainty. This speaks to the performance by our courts in service delivery,” she stated.