‘Ask God to send angels to protect you’ – Boniface Mwangi slams Martha Koome after security withdrawal

Outspoken political activist Boniface Mwangi has launched a scathing attack on Chief Justice Martha Koome following revelations that her security detail has been withdrawn.

In a fiery post on his X account on Friday, January 24, 2025, Mwangi reminded Koome of her infamous 2022 statement when she upheld President William Ruto’s contentious election victory, attributing it to divine intervention.

He sarcastically suggested that Koome now call upon the angels of the same God she credited at the time to rescue her from her current plight.

Mwangi, who was recently abducted after staging protests in Nairobi’s CBD, mocked Koome, urging her to seek help from the angels of the same God she had credited with Ruto’s election.

His comments referenced the Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling, where all nine grounds of Raila Odinga’s petition challenging Ruto’s victory were dismissed.

At the time, Koome defended the court’s decision, stating it was divinely guided.

“This judgment was for the sake of the independence of institutions, especially the judiciary. It was not due to our might or power as a court but because of the faithful God that we serve,” she had said.

Security withdrawal alarm

Criticizing Koome further, Mwangi noted the irony of her current predicament, emphasizing the speed at which Ruto was allegedly undermining her position. He likened it to a betrayal, highlighting how the Chief Justice’s previous statements now appeared hollow in light of her struggles.

The backlash comes after Koome’s office issued a statement lamenting the withdrawal of her security detail. She described the move as a direct assault on the judiciary’s independence and a dangerous precedent for Kenya’s democracy.

In the three-page statement, Koome warned that such actions could have profound consequences, including eroding public trust in the judiciary and undermining its role as a check on executive overreach.

“The Constitution of Kenya obligates all state organs to operate in the spirit of consultation, collaboration, and mutual respect in service to the people. Central to this framework is the independence of institutions, particularly the Judiciary, which is charged with safeguarding justice, upholding the rule of law, and defending constitutional principles. It is against this backdrop that I express profound concern over the withdrawal of security for the Chief Justice—an act that undermines judicial independence, threatens institutional integrity, and endangers democratic progress,” the statement read.

Call for restoration of security

Further in the statement, Koome argued that the state’s ability to withdraw security from a constitutional officeholder jeopardized public confidence in the judiciary’s impartiality and weakened its critical role as a guardian against the abuse of power.

She called on the National Police Service and relevant state bodies to immediately and unconditionally restore her security detail, insisting that doing so was essential to reaffirming judicial independence and protecting the nation’s democratic fabric.

“I therefore call upon the National Police Service and all relevant state actors to immediately and unconditionally restore the security detail of the Chief Justice. This step is not merely administrative but essential to reaffirming the Judiciary’s independence, safeguarding the integrity of constitutional offices, and ensuring the continued growth of Kenya’s democracy,” Koome appealed.

The Chief Justice also urged Kenyans to remain vigilant, emphasizing that their voices were vital in defending the judiciary’s autonomy and the sanctity of the Constitution.