Former Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President, Nelson Havi, has issued a firm ultimatum to Chief Justice Martha Koome, demanding her resignation within 48 hours or face a petition for impeachment.
In a statement on Sunday, Havi reiterated his earlier deadline for CJ Koome to step down, which is set for January 14, 2025. He also called on the six other Supreme Court judges to pressure Koome into resigning, failing which he vowed to file a petition seeking the removal of all seven judges by 9:00 am on Monday.
“The deadline I gave for CJ Martha Koome to resign is January 14, 2025. The six other Judges of the Supreme Court can prevail upon her to go,” Havi stated.
“If they do not, all seven will have to go. They have until tomorrow at 9:00 am, after which I will present a petition for their removal to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).”
For months, Havi and other senior counsels have accused Koome’s administration of fostering corruption within the judiciary. They have also criticized the frequent absenteeism of judges and the failure to meet judicial obligations.
In December 2024, Havi raised concerns over High Court Judge Lawrence Mugambi’s failure to deliver required rulings, despite being scheduled for the task. Havi further blamed CJ Koome for assigning non-judicial duties to judges, disrupting court schedules.
While Havi has emphasized that his criticism is not personally directed at Koome, he has voiced concern over the judiciary’s tolerance of corruption and its perceived failure to ensure accountability among judges. “I have no evidence or claims of corruption or bribery against CJ Koome. My concern is her tolerance for corruption within the judiciary,” Havi explained in a recent interview on Spice FM.
As the deadline approaches, all eyes will be on whether CJ Koome will step down or if the matter will escalate to an impeachment petition.
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