Chief Justice Martha Koome has directed the secretary of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to deploy an investigative team to engage lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi after he alleged that some judges were involved in corruption.
In a statement on Monday, December 9, Koome noted that the investigative team, which will be drawn from JSC, will engage Ahmednasir with the aim of obtaining details of the allegations he made.
The CJ asked the outspoken lawyer to cooperate with the officers from JSC, adding that the secretary of the commission will inform the public on the progress while providing monthly updates on the status of complaints before the JSC.
"I have directed the Secretary of the Judicial Service Commission to deploy an investigative team drawn from the JSC to engage with Ahmednasir Abdullahi, SC, with a view to obtaining particulars of the allegations made on the social media platform X with a view to progressing the complaints (if comprehensively and fully made) to the Judicial Service Commission for action.
"I ask Ahmednasir Abdullahi, SC, to cooperate with the officers from the JSC if indeed the allegations made are in good faith and with a view to ensuring that the judiciary operates in an open and transparent manner for the benefit of all Kenyans," Koome remarked.
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At the same time, the CJ agreed to meet Prof. PLO Lumumba over the alleged incidents of corruption in the judiciary.
Koome disclosed that she has convened a consultative meeting to comprehensively discuss the concerns about the integrity of the judiciary.
“In response to Prof. PLO Lumumba’s request for an audience and in a bid to develop a comprehensive roadmap to address these persistent allegations and further safeguard the integrity of the judiciary, I have accepted and convened a consultative meeting to comprehensively discuss concerns on integrity within the judiciary and attendant integrity within the legal profession," Koome stated.
She further noted that she had invited the President of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), the chairperson of the Senior Counsel Bar and representative members of JSC to join the consultative meeting.
Meanwhile, Koome stated that according to the State of the Juciary and Administration of Justice Report that was presented to Parliament on November 15, 141 petitions touching on the conduct of judges were received, out of which 70 were concluded during the 2023/24 financial year.
"The Commission also registered 116 disciplinary cases against staff, the most common of which was absence from duty at 58 complaints. 11 complaints touched on soliciting and receiving a bribe. Out of these cases, 51 cases have been concluded," Koome explained.
