CJ Martha Koome: I cannot be compromised
By Luke Oluoch, November 10, 2025Chief Justice Martha Koome has vouched for her own integrity, stressing that her office will not shy away from holding meetings for fear of perceived bias from the public.
Speaking while attending the launch of the Administration of Justice in Kenya Annual Report on Monday, November 10, 2025, Koome stated that she would welcome a collaborative approach to enhance the administration of justice in the country and address issues incidental to the matter.
Took an oath
“I am not afraid of meeting anybody because I am well-grounded under the mandate I execute as CJ. The Constitution tells me about the separation of powers and the oath of office that others like me have taken to protect the Constitution,” she said.
Koome asserted that as the head of the judiciary, she is committed to upholding the integrity of her institution and ethics.
“So, I am not scared of meeting anybody. I cannot be compromised. I have always said my independence is not like corona, to infect others to get infected by others, when I meet with the people,” she added.
Administration of Justice
Koome added that the National Administration of Justice and the judiciary remain open to discuss matters pertaining to the administration of justice.
“We are going to speak about the administration of justice and strengthen the wheels of justice. As NCAJ, we will come with our agendas and share our issues with the executive, legislature, and everybody, including Kenyans,” she added. meeting to
Her sentiments emanated from an observation made by the Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen, where he decried the tendency by the public to perceive bias when judicial officers interact with members of the executive or even the opposition.
Murkomen said the tendency had led to many officers locking themselves in, citing the withdrawal of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President, Faith Odhiambo, from the government’s panel on compensating victims of police brutality
“A judge, and being a member of this profession, is sufficiently, who is sufficiently, who is properly trained and sufficiently confident, and doesn’t fear even sitting with the president. Doesn’t fear sitting with that opposition leader. Because they know that they are guided by the law when they make their decision.”
“But this idea that if you see the chief justice sitting with the president or sitting with a leader of the opposition there having a chat, you make an assumption that, ah, they are already compromised, is the very reason why people are closing themselves in different areas.”
He urged the public to desist from passing unfair judgment on judicial officers or judges, noting that it is harmful to the dispensation of justice.