Members of the opposition political parties including Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Democratic Action Party -f Kenya leader Eugene Wamalwa and Jubilee party secretary-general Jeremiah Kioni have called for the reinstatement of Chief Justice Martha Koome’s security.

Speaking in Nairobi on Friday, January 24, 2025, Kioni demanded the immediate restoration of the security detail of Koome and other officers of the judiciary, noting that the state could be having a sinister motive.

“The president seems set on dismantling the Judiciary. The removal of the security team from the Chief Justice’s office is an indication of a person who is hell-bent on capturing all these institutions,” Kioni said.

“If he is unhappy with the judgements coming from the Judiciary, he should learn to live with them like many have done in the past. Removing security from the Chief Justice is an attempt to capture the institution like he has captured parliament and the IEBC.”

The politician urged the state to move with speed to reinstate the officers, even as the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration Kipchumba Murkomen noted that the reorganization of security officers was normal.

“We demand the reinstatement of the security of the Chief Justice and any other judicial officer whose security had been withdrawn.

Murkomen responds to withdrawal

While in Kwale for the launch of the National Government Administrative Police Unit (NGAPU) on Friday, January 24, 2025, Murkomen said Koome needed not to go public with his claims of security withdrawal.

“I saw the Chief Justice complain yesterday (Thursday, January 23, 2025) about the promotion of police officers who are attached to her and subsequent movements to go for training.

“This has also happened to me before, where I write and say, ‘Please promote this officer; they have worked with me for a long time’.”

“When promoted, they are supposed to go for training. Unfortunately, our Chief Justice went public about this issue, and I want to ensure you that I have, or I think I have, an excellent relationship with the Chief Justice unless on her side she has an issue,” Murkomen clarified via a video shared on his X handle on Friday, January 24, 2025.

Murkomen said that the majority of Koome’s security detail was still working and there was no cause for alarm.

“For the comfort of the country, the Chief Justice is one of the public officers who are properly taken care of in terms of her security.

“I know the manual says that she is entitled to six police officers, but the Chief Justice has been given up to 32 police officers.

“Of the 32, only the ones who were promoted and called to go for training were three of them she was concerned about. Unfortunately, that misunderstanding, and ordinarily, the Chief Justice should have called the IG to say thank you for promoting my officers,” he added.