By Michelle Ndaga
Chief Justice Martha Koome is under intensifying pressure as the Judiciary grapples with sustained cyberbullying campaigns, political interference claims, and mounting calls for her resignation.
Speaking at the 2025 Judges’ Colloquium, Koome warned that online attacks against judges have become systematic efforts to intimidate the courts and erode public trust. She described the trend as “calculated digital harassment” designed to weaken judicial independence, echoing concerns raised by the UN Human Rights Office, which is weighing a fact-finding mission to Kenya.
At the same time, Koome faces sharp criticism from political and legal quarters. Former Law Society of Kenya presidents, including Nelson Havi, Paul Muite, and Ahmednassir Abdullahi, have demanded her resignation, citing alleged corruption and inefficiency within the judiciary. Havi even issued a 24-hour ultimatum earlier this year, threatening to petition the Judicial Service Commission for her removal.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has alleged a plot by elements within government to oust Koome, warning of efforts to reconstitute the Supreme Court ahead of the 2027 elections. Civil society voices and governance experts have also faulted her perceived silence on high-level corruption, urging stronger leadership from the Chief Justice.
Koome, however, has what she calls technologically facilitated gender-based violence but insists she will not be forced out of office. She maintains that she has never been compromised in her decades on the bench and has directed the Judicial Service Commission to act on integrity complaints.
The unfolding battle underscores the delicate balance between judicial independence, political contestation, and public accountability. With both domestic critics and international observers watching closely, Koome’s leadership is at the center of Kenya’s constitutional and governance debate.
