Kenya’s Chief Justice Martha Koome, the nation’s first female chief justice, has firmly denied allegations of corruption and incompetence within the judiciary.
Responding to recent claims, she told journalists, “In all my 22 years as a judge and chief justice, nobody has ever approached me with a bribe. I would have them arrested.”
Critics have recently accused Koome of not doing enough to tackle bribery within Kenya’s judicial system, even coining the term “jurispesa” — a blend of “jurisprudence” and “pesa” (Swahili for money) — to suggest corruption in the judiciary. Koome dismissed these claims as baseless, urging anyone with evidence to report it to security agencies or the judicial oversight commission.
She remarked that these accusations seem intended to “lower my credibility” and “distract me,” but emphasized her commitment to impartiality.
Kenya’s judiciary has long faced corruption claims, which Koome previously called “a national embarrassment.” She also highlighted the role of gender bias in criticisms against her, stating, “It is total misogyny. It is total chauvinism.”
Beyond combating corruption, Justice Koome voiced concern over the rising cases of violence against women. “Every other day there is a report of a young woman who has lost her life through violence,” she said, noting delays in prosecuting such cases due to lack of witnesses. In the past three months alone, police reported nearly 100 killings of women and girls, while Africa Data Hub recorded over 500 femicide cases in Kenya from 2016 to 2024.
To address this, Justice Koome announced plans to open 11 specialized courts focused on sexual and gender-based violence, two of which have already been established in Kisumu and Siaya counties. “Cases of gender-based violence must be given priority,” she affirmed, stressing the need for swift justice so victims do not face prolonged court proceedings.
