Chief Justice Martha Koome has stated that all persons facing robbery with violence charges deserve legal representation.
In a letter directed to the heads of the Court of Appeal, High Court, Employment and Labour Relations Court, Koome affirmed that all people are entitled to legal representation as provided in the constitution.
“It is hereby directed that every person accused of robbery with violence must be provided with legal representation as a matter of right as provided in the Constitution,” the letter read in part.
Article 50 (2) of the Constitution of Kenya states that every accused person has the right to a fair trial, which includes the right "to have an advocate assigned to the accused person by the State and at State expense, if substantial injustice would otherwise result, and to be informed of this right promptly."
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CJ Martha Koome and EACC Chairman Eliud Wabukala.
At the same, CJ Koome Wednesday, November 3, 2021, called upon Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to undertake a comprehensive anti-corruption audit of the Judiciary.
According to the CJ, the move will help restore public confidence and trust judiciary.
"We must adopt a system review of the Judiciary's entire operational apparatus to tackle and eliminate avenues and loopholes that are prone to exploitation by those who may be tempted to engage in unethical and corrupt acts.
"The review is a symbol that the Judiciary and EACC are committed to enhance and redouble our efforts to combat corruption and give effect to the normative command in Chapter Six (6) of the Constitution," she said.
