Chief Justice Martha Koome revealed that the UN was preparing to send the Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers to Kenya.
“The planned visit will help us take stock of these challenges and provide authoritative recommendations on safeguarding the independence of judges and courts,” CJ Koome said on Monday.
Chief Justice Martha Koome delivers an address during the swearing-in of various independent commission office holders in Nairobi on January 20, 2025.
The UN mission, she explained, would assess the intensity of digital threats and advise on protecting courts and judicial officers from intimidation.
Digital Age Threats
CJ Koome acknowledged that while technology had improved access to justice, it had also opened dangerous new vulnerabilities.
“Over the last one year, we have witnessed a worrying trend of increased cyberbullying, targeted harassment, and orchestrated online campaigns against judges and judicial officers,” she said.
The Chief Justice further admitted that the cyberattacks come on top of already heavy burdens. Judges, she said, face crushing caseloads and the emotional toll of handling sensitive disputes.
“It is imperative that we develop innovative and sustainable ways of nurturing mental wellness and resilience within the Judiciary. It is in this spirit that we conceived the Judiciary Families Initiative,” she explained.
An undated photo of the entrance of the Judiciary building in Nairobi.
“Judicial independence is not just freedom from external influence. It is the assurance that judges can carry out their duties without fear,” she said.
