Friday, January 24, 2025 – Chief Justice Martha Koome is a woman under siege. This is after President William Ruto’s government withdrew her security detail, leaving her exposed.
In a letter addressed to
Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen and Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja
yesterday, Koome expressed concerns over the withdrawal of her security detail,
highlighting the constitutional implications of such an act.
She described the move as a threat to
judicial independence.
Koome warned that the withdrawal
of security could destabilize the balance of power within Kenya’s governance
framework.
"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 while
respecting the autonomy of others.
"Such an action not only
weakens public trust in state institutions but also sets a perilous precedent,
suggesting that key constitutional offices can be undermined through external
pressure or retaliation," the letter added.
She further expressed concern
over the weakened capacity of the Judiciary Police Unit, taking issue with the
withdrawal of a significant number of officers.
As a result, Koome urged the
National Police Service to restore her security detail, noting that it is
crucial for reaffirming the Judiciary's independence.
It was not immediately
established why Koome’s security detail had been withdrawn without even a
warning; considering that she was one of the people who helped Ruto to become
President in 2022.
The Kenyan DAILY POST.
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