Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has weighed in on the ongoing legal battle involving Chief Justice Martha Koome and petitions seeking her removal from office. In a statement shared on his social media handles, Kindiki emphasized that the removal of a judge from office is strictly a constitutional matter and should not be politicized or influenced by ethnic considerations.
“Removal of a judge from office is purely a constitutional matter and not a political or ethnic issue,” Kindiki stated, underscoring the need for adherence to legal and constitutional principles in handling judicial disputes.
Kindiki’s remarks come amid rising tensions over the two petitions filed against Koome and other Supreme Court judges at the Judicial Service Commission (JSC). The Deputy President called on both the accusers and defenders of judges to rely on legal arguments rather than dragging ethnicity into the discourse, warning that doing so undermines the seriousness of the judicial process.
“Accusers and defenders of judges must use constitutional and legal arguments to state their positions rather than trivializing such a weighty legal matter by bringing in ethnicity into the equation,” he added.
Kindiki also raised a pointed question about fairness and impartiality in defending judges who may not have influential ethnic or political backing. “Who defends the judges who may be innocent but do not have ethnic godfathers?” he asked, highlighting concerns over potential bias in judicial matters.
His comments have sparked significant public debate, with many legal experts and commentators echoing his call for the protection of judicial independence. Kindiki’s stance reinforces the importance of upholding constitutional integrity and ensuring that judicial processes remain free from political or ethnic interference.
As the controversy surrounding Koome’s case continues, the Deputy President’s intervention adds a crucial voice advocating for legal objectivity and fairness in the treatment of judges facing accusations. His call for constitutional fidelity serves as a reminder of the need to preserve the judiciary’s credibility and the rule of law in Kenya.
