Africa-Press – Kenya. Chief Justice Martha Koome has hit back at leaders allied to Deputy President William Ruto for demanding her resignation over her role in a committee overseeing 2022 election preparedness.
While addressing delegates at the Devolution Conference in Makueni County, on Thursday, November 25, Koome, who chairs the intergovernmental committee, stated there was no way her role would influence the outcome of the polls.
The CJ added that there was no political influence in the committee affirming that the judiciary was a key stakeholder in the country’s electoral system.
“The Judicial Service Act gives me the mandate to be the link for the Judiciary with other government agencies. It also creates the National Council on Administration of Justice whose mandate is to collaborate and coordinate all the actors in the administration of justice to ensure that at the end of the day we render seamless services,”
“I met an intergovernmental committee on election preparedness, and I was attacked for holding the meeting. The Judiciary cannot deliver justice on its own,” the CJ stated.
Koome further castigated United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party for making unjustified demands and wondered about the criticism that she would have received if she was meeting politicians.
“I was left wondering what would happen if I meet politicians?” Koome questioned.
The CJ was responding after Ruto allies led by Garissa Township Member of Parliament, Aden Duale, accused Koome of meddling in the affairs of an independent institution.
The leaders alleged that the CJ would be conflicted in the event that a presidential petition is filed in 2022.
“Madam Chief Justice and the President of the Supreme Court, you cannot wear two hats that you are preparing elections and when the elections are over, you want to wear another hat as an independent Judicial officer in the determination of the presidential election.
“She must follow what the constitution says. We are going to make a formal complaint as UDA in the next two days. She is out of order. You either resign as Chief Justice and be part of our competitors. We have no problem with that. You can give them legal advice,” he demanded.
Consequently, UDA Secretary-General Veronica Maina wrote a letter to IEBC Chairman, Wafula Chebukati, demanding that the CJ should relinquish her position in the crucial intergovernmental committee.
However, various leaders have come to the defence of Koome stating that previous CJs have participated in election preparedness committees.
“Stop bullying CJ Martha Koome, when CJ Maraga participated in the Elections preparedness committee, they said nothing. Koome is there as chair of the National Council on the Administration of Justice. They are attacking her because she is a superwoman CJ,” Machakos Governor, Alfred Mutua claimed.
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