Judiciary Dismisses Nelson Havi’s Claims CJ Koome Was Allocated 32 Police Officers

The Judiciary Service Commission (JSC) on Tuesday dismissed former Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Nelson Havi’s claims that Chief Justice Martha Koome was allocated 32 security personnel to guard her.

A post shared by the lawyer on Tuesday morning alleged that CJ Koome had been allocated at least 32 police officers to protect her with the former LSK boss terming the number as exorbitant.

Havi further published the list which reportedly contained the names and details of Martha Koome’s workers including cooks, drivers, bodyguards, and security escorts.

According to Havi, the government’s decision to recall three officers from CJ Koome’s security detail for training did not mean that Koome’s security had been withdrawn.

“CJ Martha Koome is allocated 32 known police officers to guard her, a huge number by all means. The temporary recall of three for training and promotion cannot be a withdrawal of her security,” Havi alleged.

In his controversial post, the senior counsel also accused the chief justice of dishonesty by allegedly accusing the executive of withdrawing her security.

While dismissing the allegations, the Judiciary termed Havi’s claims as deliberate misinformation, which, according to the JSC, was inaccurate and purposefully meant to deceive Kenyans. “This is not just inaccurate, it is purposefully deceptive,” the Judiciary stated.

The clarification followed Koome’s recent statement where he accused Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja of withdrawing their security.

In a rebuttal, Nelson Havi challenged the judiciary to provide accurate information on CJ Koome’s security detail in stead of flagging his social media posts.

“What is the accurate position? You are here arguing with us yet you are sustained in office on our taxes. We will countermand every misinformation you put out here with facts,” Havi argued.

In a statement on Thursday, January 23, Koome termed the withdrawal of her security detail as an act that undermined the independence of the judiciary.

According to her, the decision was not only an insult to the judiciary’s independence but also posed a threat to the safety of judicial officers across the country.

“By exposing the office to vulnerabilities through the withdrawal of security, the ability of the Judiciary to perform its constitutional mandate is gravely compromised,” CJ Koome stated.

However, hours after lamenting, Koome’s security was reinstated with Interior CS Murkomen labeling the matter as too small and that it should not have been told to the public.

Meanwhile, Havi and a section of senior lawyers in the country have been calling for the CJ’s resignation, citing allegations of rooted corruption within the judiciary.

Havi’s attack on the judiciary also extended to other judges of the high court with Havi accusing some judges of intentionally missing court sittings on working days.