Chief justice Martha Koome has ignored calls by the United Democratic Alliance asking her to resign from the Technical Working Committee for Election Preparedness.
She spoke during the Annual Devolution Conference in Makueni County on Thursday, November 25, said the committee is not made up of politicians who could compromise Judicial independence.
“I met an intergovernmental committee on election preparedness [on Tuesday], and I was attacked for holding the meeting. Judiciary cannot deliver justice on its own,” she said.
The Chief Justice said her role in the election preparedness committee will not affect justice or Favour any political party when an election issue arises.
In a letter addressed to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairperson Wafula Chebukati, United Democratic Alliance Secretary-General Veronica Maina said Koome’s role in the committee created a case of conflict of interest, since the CJ is expected to arbitrate between aggrieved parties that may arise due to elections.
“We therefore go on record on two things. First, that your participation in election planning is not founded in law and is hence unconstitutional, illegal and blatantly in breach of any code of known conduct or standard for judicial officers,” states the letter.
“Secondly, your continued participation in election planning shall negate free and fair elections come 2022 as you have already created a perception of partiality and the likelihood of conflict of interest as an arbiter is more than certain.”
Before heading to the devolution conference she also visited the new Makueni Law Courts. She met judges, judicial officers and staff led by the Presiding Judge George Dulu and Environment and Land Court judge, Theresa Murigi.
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