Chief Justice Martha Koome has urged closer cooperation between Parliament and the Judiciary, warning that Kenya’s constitutional promise of social transformation cannot be achieved if institutions continue working in isolation.
Speaking in Mombasa during the inaugural Joint Forum of the National Assembly and the Judiciary, Koome described the event as historic, noting that it embodied the spirit of collaborative constitutionalism envisaged in the 2010 Constitution. She said institutional independence must never be mistaken for isolation, insisting that dialogue and mutual respect between state organs are necessary to protect the dignity and rights of Kenyans.
The Chief Justice acknowledged past tensions between Parliament and the Judiciary but stressed the need for a principled balance between parliamentary privilege and judicial oversight. She also called for more resources to enable the Judiciary to meet its obligations, pointing out that many constituencies still lack magistrates’ courts and that digitisation of court services remains underfunded.
Koome appealed to Parliament to fast-track key legislation, including the Tribunals Bill, the Kenya Judiciary Academy Bill, and the long-delayed Judges’ Retirement Benefits Bill. She further raised concerns over the growing cyberbullying and disinformation targeting judges, saying it undermines public confidence in the administration of justice and requires urgent legislative intervention.
Concluding her remarks, Koome reminded leaders that the Constitution was not entrusted to them to fuel rivalry but to ensure better service to the people. “If we do this,” she said, “we will not only uphold the letter of the Constitution but breathe life into its spirit the spirit of a just, equitable and prosperous Kenya.”
