Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Faith Odhiambo has issued a strong call to the Judiciary to embrace transparency and accountability in the face of growing public concern over corruption within the ranks of judicial officers.
Speaking during an interview on Spice FM, Odhiambo said some judges have hidden behind the constitutional principle of judicial independence to avoid scrutiny while allegedly engaging in unethical conduct.
“Sometimes the devil is in the details in the decisions, and that is why you see corruption in the decisions that make no sense and are not based in law,” she remarked.
Odhiambo warned that public trust in the Judiciary is rapidly eroding, with many Kenyans expressing doubt in the ability of courts to dispense justice impartially.
“The public opinion right now feels that the good judges are not in a majority,” she added. “The crisis the Judiciary is having is that of convincing Kenyans that they will get fairness.”
Recent months have seen increased criticism of the Judiciary, with allegations of bribery, professional misconduct, and deliberate delays in the determination of high-profile cases.
While acknowledging similar challenges within the legal fraternity, Odhiambo emphasized that the LSK has mechanisms to discipline rogue lawyers—including the revocation of practice licenses—but underscored that the responsibility to investigate and discipline judges lies with the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).
“I’ve seen situations where a lawyer is not even needed. Some judges go directly to the client, especially when they see their net worth and potential. They look for agents to reach them,” she claimed. “The higher burden lies with the bench.”
Prominent members of the legal profession, including former LSK President Nelson Havi and senior counsel Ahmednasir Abdullahi, have echoed similar sentiments, demanding accountability and urgent reforms within the Judiciary.
In a recent development, former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju filed a petition with the JSC against five Supreme Court judges. The implicated judges have since moved to court in a bid to halt the proceedings, a move that could jeopardize their continued service on the country’s highest court.
Odhiambo’s remarks come amid a wider national discourse on judicial integrity, with growing calls from civil society, legal practitioners, and the public for bold reforms to restore faith in Kenya’s justice system.
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