CJ Koome’s security detail reinstated after outcry - KMJA

Chief Justice Martha Koome’s security detail which had been withdrawn on Thursday has reportedly been reinstated following outcry from a myriad of quarters.

Kenya Magistrates and Judges Association (KMJA) President Justice Stephen Radido, in a strongly worded statement on Friday, confirmed that the officers had been re-attached to the CJ as he condemned the initial move by the National Police Service (NPS).

Justice Radido poked holes into Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja’s explanation of recalling the officers for training and promotion, saying he ought to have followed due process and even informed the CJ earlier.

“Unknown to the Judiciary and its leadership, the National Police Service was in the process of recalling the security detail/close escort(s) attached to the Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Court of Kenya,” he said.

“The detail/close escort(s) were eventually recalled under the guise that it was their turn to undergo promotional training (we are aware that the detail/close escorts deployed to the Honourable Chief Justice have been reinstated after a formal complaint was made to various high-level officers).”

He added: “For, how can the police command explain the withdrawal of the police officers deployed to the Judiciary and its members without prior consultations, communication or notice?”

Terming the initial move as ‘unilateral and arbitrary’, Justice Radido faulted the NPS leadership reiterating that it amounted to intimidation tactics, presumably to influence the independence of the judicial arm of government.

“From these events, the Executive Council believes that there are people within our society who are keen to reinvent and use McCarthyism tactics to intimidate, and coerce Judges and Magistrates and with an end goal of a weakened judiciary,” stated Justice Radido.

“It is disheartening that in addition to the McCarthyism tactics deployed by certain members of the society, the National Police Service has now resorted to Gestapo-like practices while discharging its obligations to the Judiciary and its members.”

Citing the redeployment of the Commandant of the Judiciary Police Unit and 23 officers deployed to the squad, KMJA stated that it believes the police are being used to undermine the Judiciary.

“In the past few days, the Commandant of the Judiciary Police Unit and 23 Officers deployed to the Unit have been recalled and or redeployed, exposing the institution's security. The Commandant and officers have not been replaced,” added Justice Radido.

“The decision by the command of the National Police Service has all the hallmarks of a head-on retributive attack on the Judiciary, for reasons hidden in plain sight.”

The KMJA President called upon the police service to adhere to the rule of law in administering their functions to protect institutions and their heads.

CJ Koome accused the government, through the Ministry of Interior, of withdrawing her security detail on Thursday evening.

“I express profound concern over the withdrawal of security for the Chief Justice - an act that undermines judicial independence, threatens institutional integrity and endangers democratic progress,” Koome said then.

“State organs are entrusted with the solemn duty of serving the public using resources provided by taxpayers. This obligation demands that no institution or officeholder be subjected to intimidation, coercion, or undue interference by another arm of government.”

IG Kanja later addressed the concerns saying the officers were either sent on training after promotion or procedurally transferred to other stations.

He further said that there was poor coordination that led to the officers assigned to the Chief Justice leaving before the new ones arrived, causing the deployment gap.

Kenyans came out to protest the move, with the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and the opposition calling out the government for what they said was an insult to the Judiciary.