Chief Justice Martha Koome has issued a stern warning to the government over threats to slash the Judiciary budget. President William Ruto in Tigania East commissioning of Thanatu-Kagwata-Mulika Market road (l). CJ Martha Koome holding talks with the Ambassador of Azerbaijan. Photo: William Ruto/Martha Koome. Source: Facebook Why government cannot cut Judiciary budget Koome asserted that the merits of cases are determined according to pieces of evidence presented before the judges. “We will never discuss the merit of a case that will be determined by the judge based on evidence, the law, and their understanding of whatever has been presented to the court and if the decision turns out to be erroneous and not acceptable to any party, they should appeal to the Court of Appeal,” Koome said. She further stated that the decision-making process of the Judiciary would remain independent. This comes against the backdrop of the CJ’s meeting with President William Ruto to iron out corruption allegations in the judicial system. Koome clarified that the Judiciary will not comply with requests to address concerns about their independence. “Even when we open ourselves up to dialogue, one thing we will not open ourselves to is our decision-making independence. I want to take this opportunity to reassure our partners and Kenyans that we, the Judiciary, will remain independent, we will live up to the ideals of decisional autonomy as protected in the Constitution. I urge heads of mission and development partners to be our ambassadors by advocating for the respect of institutional independence,” she added. According to the CJ, the Judiciary aims to reduce alleged bribery by automating processes and implementing the e-filing system in all courts by March 2024. Subscribe to watch new videos UDA MPs threaten to cut Judiciary budget Recently, UDA lawmakers threatened to slash the Judiciary budget during the next financial year following a court ruling that suspended government projects. Mogotio Member of Parliament Reuben Kiborek said the parliament will use its powers to punish the Judiciary for making rulings he claimed go against the public interest. “We in Parliament also have power, which is to create the budget. I want to ask you, chair of the budget (Ndindi Nyoro), that when we are creating the upcoming budget, if the Judiciary refuses to behave, let’s cut their entire budget until they walk and ride bicycles in town to understand what the jobless Kenyans experience every day,” Kiborek said. What you need to know about Judiciary and President William Ruto The president accused the judiciary of being involved in corruption by accepting bribes to decide on cases CJ Martha Koome had a meeting with the executive and legislature to iron out the issues within the three arms of the government The Law Society of Kenya had staged a protest demanding that the Judiciary’s independence remain untampered with Azimio leader Raila Odinga claimed that the Judiciary had been captured by the government
by Nancy Odindo