‘I am a victim of cyberbullying’

Chief Justice Martha Koome on Tuesday, December 10, 202,4 came out to confess to facing cyberbullying while in her line of duty.

Speaking during the opening of the inaugural High Court Human Rights Summit, the president of the apex court in the country described the form of bullying she has encountered as technologically facilitated gender-based violence.

She wondered what the perpetrators aimed to achieve by pushing narratives online to bully her.

However, she explained that most of the people cyberbullying her are doing so with a clear business-orientated purpose.

Despite the push to scare her, distract her and even defame her character, the CJ made it clear that she would not bow to pressure and vacate her position.

“When I speak, I always confess that I am a victim of cyberbullying or it is called technologically facilitated gender-based violence. But I know the intentions it is a business model I don’t know to achieve what maybe to scare me, to distract me, to defame me and hound me out of office but they can try something else,” she said during the summit.

While confessing to being a victim of cyberbullying, she admitted various challenges bedevilling the judiciary including graft. She however made it clear that her leadership is determined to weed out the practice and promote transparency.

“It is corruption that has eaten the fabric of our society and we in the Judiciary occupy a special role in ensuring that we protect our society from these corrupt practices and deal with those matters that come before us firmly,” the CJ insisted.

Koome to meet Lumumba

Her sentiments come a day after she agreed to meet with Prof PLO Lumumba to discuss allegations of corruption within the Judiciary.

In a statement Monday night December 9, 2024, she announced that the meeting will include representatives from the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), the Senior Counsel Bar, members of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and court heads.

Koome added that the meeting will also provide updates on complaints currently before the JSC and outline mechanisms adopted by the Judiciary to combat corruption and enhance transparency and accountability.

“I have accepted and convened a consultative meeting to comprehensively discuss concerns regarding integrity within the Judiciary and the legal profession,” Koome stated.