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CJ Koome warns online attacks on judges could undermine Kenya’s justice system

Chief Justice Martha Koome has sounded the alarm over the rising wave of online attacks targeting judges, warning that sustained digital harassment threatens judicial independence and risks weakening public trust in Kenya’s courts.

Speaking in Mombasa on Monday during the opening of a five-day Judges’ Colloquium, CJ Koome said social media has increasingly become a tool for orchestrated harassment, false accusations, and defamatory campaigns against judicial officers.

“This sustained social media onslaught is not merely a passing wave of criticism; it is a calculated attempt to weaken the moral authority of the Judiciary and to intimidate judges into silence or bending the law to the whims of nefarious interests,” Koome cautioned.

She stressed that the attacks were not limited to individuals but aimed at eroding public confidence in the entire justice system.

Koome warned that unchecked digital intimidation could pressure judges into aligning their rulings with political or commercial interests rather than upholding the Constitution.

“Protecting that space of fearless adjudication is essential if the Judiciary is to continue playing its constitutional role as the last line of defense for justice, rights, and the rule of law,” she said.

The Chief Justice also revealed that the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights had expressed concern over the situation and was considering dispatching the Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers to Kenya.

“We are hopeful this mission will materialize, for such external engagement by a global expert will not only help us take stock of the situation at home but also provide authoritative guidance on strengthening our resilience,” Koome noted.

The colloquium, themed “Digital Transformation, Technology and the Law”, has drawn judges from the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, High Court, Employment and Labor Relations Court, and the Environment and Land Court.

Koome further acknowledged that while digital transformation has enhanced access to justice, it has also introduced new risks. She urged judges to embrace technology to improve efficiency and transparency while remaining firm in safeguarding judicial independence.

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