CJ Koome gives a proposal to tackle Kenya’s bribery menace
By Luke Oluoch, November 10, 2025Chief Justice Martha Koome has called for a nationwide conversation to tackle corruption and bribery.
Speaking at the launch of the Administration of Justice in Kenya Annual Report on Monday, November 10, 2025, Koome emphasised that the war against graft and bribery needed to extend to the citizens through sentitisation.
national conversation
“We need a national conversation with Kenyans so that we can come to an agreement in one accord that Kenyans will not give a bribe, and report when they are asked for one; they will report it as a crime,” she stated.
Koome cited the coming to power of the National Alliance Rainbow Coalition (NARC) government in 2003, which happened with considerable efforts to tackle the corruption menace, when Kenyans took action against bribery by arresting police officers soliciting bribes on the road.
“I am always asking myself what we can do to combat it, since we already have laws. How I yearn for such a moment when Kenyans themselves will say no to corruption,” she added.
She urged the judicial officers to emulate that resolve and take a firm stand against bribery as a way of restoring the waning public confidence.
“As the justice sector, we need to implement that guideline and say no when bribed. We are trying to do that as the judiciary even though it is a difficult conversation,” she stated.
Zero-tolerance
“We have to implement a zero-tolerance policy for corruption despite existing challenges, including court brokers exploiting citizens.”
Koome’s remarks come after she urged Kenyans to embrace ethics and integrity as essential pillars in building a just society.
Speaking while addressing the Global Leadership Summit at CITAM Karen on Thursday, October 2, 2025, the CJ called for a collective effort to instil ethical values across all areas of life.
“We must always remember that ethics and integrity are not values built only in Parliament or enforced only in courts. They must be nurtured at home, taught in schools, modelled in workplaces, and lived out in the choices we make every day,” she stated.
The event brought together Attorney General, Dorcas Oduor, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, and Deputy Speaker Gladys Boss Shollei, among other stakeholders in the legal field.