Kalonzo demands reinstatement of Martha Koome’s security
By Luke Oluoch, January 24, 2025
Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has called for the immediate reinstatement of Chief Justice Martha Koome’s security details after reports of withdrawal came through on Thursday, January 23, 2025.
In a statement posted via his X account, Musyoka called the development a despicable action in what he termed as a catalogue of acts of impunity perpetuated by President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza administration.
Kalonzo alluded to the recent unconstitutional assault on parliament and independent institutions in the country, adding that efforts to now undermine the legal arm of government by Kenya Kwanza should be rejected by Kenyans.
“This despicable action is designed to undermine the independence of the office of the Chief Justice and by extension to the Judiciary and other independent institutions. The unconstitutional assault on Parliament, constitutional commissions, independent offices and now with concerted subterfuge, to capture the Judiciary, shall be opposed and resisted by all law-abiding and spirited Kenyans,” Musyoka remarked.
“No amount of intimidation, persecution, or other unlawful and underhanded dealings will restore the reputation of the disgraced, corrupt, and tyrannical Kenya Kwanza dictatorship. This Ruto regime simply does not get it!” Kalonzo said.
On Friday, CJ Koome addressed a letter to IG and Internal Affairs CS Kipchumba Murkomen decrying the withdrawal of her security details and that of her other judicial officers.
Koome further observed that the move does not bode well with judicial independence, institutional integrity, and preservation of democratic progress.
“Security for the Chief Justice is not a personal privilege but a structural necessity to ensure the Judiciary can function autonomously and without fear. The withdrawal of this security detail is an egregious affront to the principle of separation of powers. It destabilizes the delicate balance upon which democratic governance is founded, where each arm of government operates independently,” part of CJ Koome’s letter reads.
In a quick rejoinder, the law enforcers, through Inspector General Douglas Kanja termed the withdrawal as a normal procedural undertaking.
Kanja highlighted that it was occasioned by some officers being sent on training after promotion and the transfer of others to new posts.
Musyoka’s sentiments come after Nairobi politician Millicent Omanga also criticized the move on Friday, January 24, 2025.
Omanga, a recent appointee to the Kenya Kenya Shipyards Limited boards of directors has described the development as an infringement on the independence of the judiciary as well as one that could jeopardise the security of the members of the judiciary.
“Whatever the issues in contention may be, withdrawing the security detail of CJ @CJMarthaKoome sends a bad signal and infringes on the independence of the judiciary, exposes judicial officers to danger and hampers the delivery of justice. May reason prevail,” Omanga wrote on her X account.
The withdrawal of Koome’s security comes amid an ongoing onslaught on the Judiciary from sections of lawyers who want the removal of the chief justice and all the Supreme Court judges.