Chief Justice Martha Koome has vowed to protect the independence of the Judiciary even as she urged the other arms of government to play their part in facilitating the dispensation of justice.
Koome who together with Justice William Ouko took their oath of office as Chief Justice and Supreme Court Judge respectively vowed to propel the Judiciary to greater heights.
And amid concern that the Judiciary was no longer independent, the president surprised the judges and guests when he re-read the oath, asking Koome and Ouko to internalize its meaning.
A historic day for Kenya as Martha Koome is sworn in as the first female Chief Justice in the republic, making her the 15th Chief Justice since Independence.
The ceremony held at Statehouse Nairobi also saw former Court of Appeal President William Ouko take his oath as Supreme Court Judge to replace Justice Jackton Ojwang who resigned in 2019.
President Kenyatta who witnessed the swearing took time to repeat the oath to the judges as he advised them to internalize the details
“Promote fairness, independence, competence and integrity within it. Mine is to wish you God’s blessing as you embark on your duties, we know you will succeed we will work and partner with you,” President Kenyatta said.
The president further urged the judges to utilize the vast experience in the corridors of justice to facilitate delivery of justice
“I cannot teach you what to do if you give justice we will not have a problem,” the president added.
After the swearing in ceremony, the new Chief Justice was introduced to Judiciary staff and judges whom she would work closely with.
Both Koome and Ouko acknowledged the difficult task ahead:
“Interviews are done, celebrations are done, now the hard work begin,” Ouko said.
The new Chief Justice urged the Executive to play its role in funding the Judiciary and ensure the implementation and respect for court orders.
A full intray awaits the new Chief Justice, among them, restoring public confidence in the third arm of government amid fears that it had been infiltrated and its independence threatened.
“Independence of the judiciary cannot be interfered with, anyone directing the judiciary will be against the law,” Chief Justice Koome said.
There were moments of nostalgia for Koome and Ouko who were once classmates in the 80s and who over the years have risen through the ranks to the positions whose oath they took on Friday afternoon.
“We did not imagine we would be here, as chief justice and supreme court judge,” ouko said.
“He was my boss, the CoA president, we applied for the same job, and we used to encourage each other that we are in a friendly match this is a lesson politicians need to learn from us,” CJ Koome said.
Koome also urged women to rise to the occasion, saying they had broken the glass ceiling, and they should seize the moment.
Quotes US VP Kamala Harris: ‘I am the first, but not the last’
Kenya’s CJ Martha Koome, who was sworn in on Friday, paid tribute to other women who she said were trailblazers having walked the path ahead of her.
In her maiden speech, CJ Koome quoted US Vice President Kamala Harris saying: “I am the first, but certainly not the last.”
“I am the first woman in Kenya to take this office but because every time a member of the marginalised group breaks a barrier, they hold a space for the dreams and hopes of others,” she said.
CJ Martha Koome stated that it is now easier for other women to follow in her footsteps since the ‘path is now well defined’ making it easier for other women to follow suit.
My warmest congratulations to Lady Justice Martha Koome as she becomes the first woman to serve as Chief Justice of Kenya. Women's equal representation in legal systems is integral to achieving fair, just, and inclusive societies. #WomenLeaders #Kenya
— Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (@MaEllenSirleaf) May 19, 2021
She spoke about the oath of office that she took at State House, Nairobi saying the weight and responsibility that falls on her shoulders in the role of Chief Justice of Kenya cannot be understated.
“It is a heavy one but it becomes lighter because it is a shared responsibility. It is a shared responsibility because justice works through a chain which runs through all the branches of government and it is as strongest as its weakest link. At the end of the chain, it is us the Judiciary, but we cannot work when the chain is broken,” CJ Koome said.
I congratulate Hon. Lady Justice Martha Karambu Koome on her appointment as Chief Justice of the Republic of Kenya.
Chief Justice Martha Koome, as you begin your tour of duty, I wish you all the best as you serve Kenyans in this important capacity.
📸 @zakheem_rajan pic.twitter.com/4FwuaXm9P6— David Maraga (@dkmaraga) May 21, 2021
She said there is need to restore coordination and focus to the justice system that requires renewed commitment to working together as “co-equal branches of government.”
The CJ intimated that she has taken time to internalise the oath of office and said the President had repeated it to underscore its significance.
“These are important words which are often referred to as guiding principles: impartiality, independence, fairness, power to protect the constitution, to render service with integrity and competence,” she said, adding that the oath would constantly remind her that power is entrusted to Judicial officers “as a servants of the people, to work with others towards ensuring justice is done, that it is dispensed expeditiously, without fear or favour or undue regard to technicalities.”
Africa’s female Chief Justices
For the first time in history, Kenya’s Judiciary has three female leaders at the helm: CJ Martha Koome, her Deputy Philomena Mwilu and Chief Registrar Anne Amadi.
In Africa, there are five other countries that have appointed a female CJ for the first time in their history:
- Nemat Abdullah Khair (Sudan)
- Meaza Ashenafi (Ethiopia)
- Dr. Mathilda Twomey (Seychelles)
- Irene Mambilima (Zambia)
- Nthomeng Justina Majara (Lesotho)
- Christine Nzeyimana (Burundi)
- Manassa Danioko (Mali)
- Lucia da Luz Ribeiro (Mozambique)
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