Also known as: Chief Justice Martha Koome · Chief Justice Koome · JSC chairperson and Chief Justice Martha Koome · Justice Koome · CJ Martha Koome · JSC Chairperson Martha Koome · former IG called Koome
Chief Justice of Kenya, presiding over Supreme Court cases and judicial matters including judges' allowances and JSC removal proceedings.
News reports
Order a long-term news report on Martha Koome
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Verbatim sentences from the source article.
The Standard
… Chief Justice Martha Koome, in her capacity as chairperson of the Judicial Service Commission, suspended Mutegi on July 22 and initiated disciplinary proceedings against him under the Judicial Service Act. …
Kangema Magistrate charged over bribery claims, released on Sh400,000 bailThe Standard
… A five-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Martha Koome, Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu, Justices Mohammed Ibrahim, Njoki Ndung’u, Isaac Lenaola, William Ouko and Said Juma Warsame issued interim orders staying execution of the July 3, 2026 Court of Appeal judgment pending …
Supreme Court halts recovery of Sh1.5bn in Ruaraka land compensation caseCitizen Digital
… Tukamchagua kufika pale ametumia hiyo kiti kumaliza watu ya Mount Kenya, ameanza na Rigathi Gachagua amemfukuza, akarudi akafukuza Mithika Linturi sasa amepanga njamaa ya kumfukuza Martha Koome, na amepanga pale kortini anahonga watu kufukuza Martha Koomе,” he is quoted as saying …
NCIC summons Gachagua over alleged inflammatory utterances in Kisii, Meru, VihigaCapital News
NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 17 – The Judiciary has disowned a letter circulating on social media and purportedly signed by Chief Justice Martha Koome, dismissing it as fabricated and warning the public against using it to advance political narratives. …
Koome Disowns Fake Letter Alleging Plot to Influence Supreme CourtCitizen Digital
… The way he abused us, molested us in the streets, using that former IG called Koome. …
‘I did not receive any money’: Junet Mohamed backtracks on claim that MPs were paid to impeach GachaguaThe Standard
Audio By VocalizeChief Justice Martha Koome has warned judges, magistrates and judicial staff against engaging in corruption and bribery, saying integrity remains the foundation of a credible justice system and dispensing justice to all Kenyans. …
Koome warns against corruption in judiciary as Kakamega gets new courtThe Standard
… Speaking at the Kakamega County Headquarters during an official visit by Chief Justice Martha Koome, who paid a courtesy call on Governor Fernandes Barasa, Ingonga said the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) would not hesitate to prosecute any individual found c …
DPP warns against incitement and hooliganismThe Standard
Audio By VocalizeChief Justice Martha Koome has expressed concern over the surge in teenage pregnancies in Bungoma County. …
CJ Koome raises the alarm over Bungoma's rising teenage pregnanciesCapital News
Residents of Bomet County are set to benefit from faster and more accessible dispute resolution following the launch of a new Alternative Justice Systems (AJS) framework by Chief Justice Martha Koome. …
Bomet Residents to Benefit from Community-Based Justice SystemCapital News
… The boycott, announced through a series of statements and operational guidelines issued in July, was aimed at Chief Justice Martha Koome, Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu and a number of other judicial officers over concerns raised by the legal profession regarding the admini …
High Court Halts LSK Boycott Pending Case HearingChief Justice Martha Koome says the Judiciary is appealing to the National Assembly for additional funding to enhance its capacity to handle disputes and logistical issues related to next year's General Election. The Judiciary is conducting a training programme for over 400 judges, but a shortage of funds threatens adequate preparation.
5 hours ago · Citizen Digital →
Chief Justice Martha Koome says the Judiciary is appealing to the National Assembly for additional funding to enhance its capacity to handle disputes and logistical issues related to next year's General Election. The Judiciary is conducting a training programme for over 400 judges, but a shortage of funds threatens adequate preparation.
5 hours ago · Citizen Digital →
Chief Justice Martha Koome says the Judiciary will begin a phased rollout of electoral dispute resolution training this week, targeting more than 400 judges and other judicial personnel to strengthen the courts' capacity to handle election-related cases fairly and on their merits.
14 hours ago · Capital News →
The National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse has requested that the Judiciary establish additional specialised courts to handle drug-related offences in Embu, Eldoret, and Mombasa, and proposed a High Court with specialised jurisdiction over organised crime. NACADA also called for capacity building for judicial officers and joint training programmes on drug abuse.
19 October 2026 · Capital News →
NACADA has proposed establishing specialised drug courts in Embu and Eldoret and reinstating Shanzu Law Court in Mombasa to handle drug-related cases, and called for a High Court with specialised jurisdiction over organised crime. The Chief Justice welcomed the proposals and expressed the Judiciary's readiness to deepen collaboration with NACADA.
19 October 2026 · The Standard →
Chief Justice Martha Koome and Justice Mohammed Warsame have rejected an application by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission seeking their recusal from a case challenging the taxation of car allowances. The SRC had argued the judges could not provide a fair hearing, citing prior remarks by the Chief Justice, but the two judges declined to step aside.
14 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Chief Justice Martha Koome has rejected a bid by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission to have her and Justice Mohammed Warsame recuse themselves from a Supreme Court case challenging judges' Sh10 million taxable car allowance. The SRC, which expressed concerns about the judges' impartiality based on their previous involvement in Judicial Service Commission discussions and alleged remarks by Koome, cited the need for impartiality in the dispute.
14 October 2026 · The Standard →
Chief Justice Martha Koome has called on parents across the country to abandon harmful cultural practices including female genital mutilation and early marriages that undermine girls' right to education and a brighter future. She spoke at Kimana in Kajiado County during International Day of the Girl Child celebrations, emphasising that child protection is a shared responsibility requiring collective effort from families, communities, government institutions and other stakeholders.
11 October 2026 · The Standard →
The High Court has quashed notices issued by the Judicial Service Commission requiring seven Supreme Court judges, including Chief Justice Martha Koome, to respond to complaints seeking their removal, finding the commission failed to conduct a preliminary assessment before starting the removal process.
2 October 2026 · Capital News →
Senior Assistant Inspector General of Police Lazarus Opicho, Commandant of the Security of Government Buildings and VIP Protection Unit and pioneer commander of the Judiciary Police Unit, has died after an illness. Inspector General Douglas Kanja and Chief Justice Martha Koome paid tribute to his decades of service to the police and judiciary.
29 September 2026 · Capital News →
Senior Assistant Inspector General of Police Lazurus Opicho died on Monday night at Aga Khan hospital. He was commandant of the VIP protection unit and Security of Government Buildings, and headed the Judiciary Police Unit from 2021 to 2024.
29 September 2026 · The Standard →
The Law Society of Kenya has renewed its call for advocates to boycott selected courts and judicial officers, citing unfulfilled commitments from the Judicial Service Commission on judicial accountability. LSK President Charles Kanjama said the targeted boycott remains in force and members should refrain from appearing before judges and officers identified by the society.
25 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Football Kenya Federation president Hussein Mohammed says conflicting High Court directives from Murang'a and Kiambu — one requiring a playoff between Kariobangi Sharks and Mombasa United for the final league spot, the other mandating Mombasa United's direct inclusion as the 18th team — forced the federation to postpone the scheduled September 19, 2026 league kickoff to avoid legal exposure.
21 September 2026 · The Standard →
Democratic Action Party of Kenya leader Eugene Wamalwa accused the Registrar of Political Parties of frustrating leaders from the Linda Mwananchi movement who are seeking to establish new parties after leaving ODM, and invited Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna to join DAP-K. Wamalwa also called on Parliament and the Judiciary to expedite electoral law amendments and resolve legal uncertainties ahead of the 2027 General Election.
21 September 2026 · The Standard →
The government is calling for stronger recruitment systems, effective agreements with destination countries, and better dispute-resolution mechanisms to protect Kenyans working abroad from fraudulent recruitment, human trafficking, wage violations and unsafe conditions. More than 540,000 Kenyans are currently working abroad, with diaspora remittances exceeding five billion US dollars in 2025.
17 September 2026 · Capital News →
Kenya's Chief Justice Martha Koome has expressed condolences on the death of Eswatini's Chief Justice Bheki Maphalala, who died on September 10 while receiving medical treatment in South Africa. Koome noted that Maphalala, who served as chief justice since 2015, strengthened regional judicial cooperation through his leadership of the Southern and Eastern Africa Chief Justices' Forum.
13 September 2026 · The Standard →
Duncan Ojwang Oburu has taken charge of the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) for a six-year term following appointment by President William Ruto and approval by the National Assembly. He replaces Justice Ahmed Issack Hassan, who relinquished the position in February 2026 after his appointment to the Court of Appeal.
10 September 2026 · The Standard →
Chief Justice Martha Koome challenged newly appointed TSC commissioners Wilson Sossion and Antonina Lentoijoni to treat their positions as a responsibility to serve Kenyans, emphasizing that their tenure should be defined by integrity, constitutionalism, and impact on teachers and learners.
10 September 2026 · The Standard →
Siaya Governor James Orengo and the Linda Mwananchi team were attacked in Migori on Saturday after tear gas was discharged during a rally; the team condemned the incident as an attempt on their lives and pledged to continue their campaign to vote out President William Ruto in the 2027 polls.
29 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Former Attorney General Justin Muturi has urged Chief Justice Martha Koome to activate the Judiciary's elections committee and establish clear timelines for resolving election-related disputes ahead of the 2027 General Election, arguing that special arrangements should be put in place proactively rather than during an electoral crisis.
29 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Suspended Kangema Senior Principal Magistrate Martin Kinyua Mutegi has been charged with receiving a bribe and arraigned before the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court. Mutegi was arrested last month by the EACC at a restaurant in Kangema Township alongside a Senior Probation Officer, allegedly caught receiving Sh150,000 in marked money from a businessman seeking a favourable sentence.
24 August 2026 · Capital News →
Suspended Kangema Magistrate Martin Kinyua Mutegi has been charged with requesting a Sh170,000 bribe and receiving a Sh150,000 bribe to influence a convicted businessman's sentence. He pleaded not guilty before the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court and was released on Sh400,000 cash bail.
24 August 2026 · The Standard →
The Supreme Court has issued temporary orders stopping the recovery of Sh1.5 billion in compensation paid for land occupied by Ruaraka High School and Drive-In Primary School, pending the hearing of an application by Huelands Limited. The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission cannot proceed with recovery efforts or enforcement measures while the interim orders remain in effect.
20 August 2026 · The Standard →
The National Cohesion and Integration Commission has summoned former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to appear before it over alleged utterances under investigation for possible violations relating to hate speech and incitement. The investigations relate to various utterances allegedly made by Gachagua on different dates and at public forums, including an alleged utterance made on February 23, 2026, at Gusii Stadium in Kisii County.
18 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →
The Judiciary issued a public notice dismissing a letter purportedly signed by Chief Justice Martha Koome as fabricated, warning the public against using it to advance political narratives. The fake document, bearing the Supreme Court and Chief Justice office letterhead, falsely claims to address alleged attempts to interfere with the independence of the Supreme Court and names former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, former Chief Justice David Maraga, and Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka.
17 August 2026 · Capital News →
Suna East MP Junet Mohamed denied receiving money to support the impeachment of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, clarifying that his earlier remarks about MPs being given "something" referred to general lobbying within Parliament, not personal payment to him.
11 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Chief Justice Martha Koome has warned judges, magistrates and judicial staff against engaging in corruption and bribery, saying integrity is the foundation of a credible justice system and that the Judiciary has zero tolerance for corruption.
6 August 2026 · The Standard →
The Director of Public Prosecutions has warned politicians against fuelling political intolerance through inflammatory remarks and sponsoring criminal gangs, stating his office will pursue further arrests to safeguard peace and the rule of law. The warning follows the arrest of Mukurweini MP John Kaguchia and comes amid heightened political tensions.
6 August 2026 · The Standard →
Chief Justice Martha Koome has expressed concern over a surge in teenage pregnancies in Bungoma County, describing it as a child justice crisis. With 125 pending defilement cases at Bungoma Law Courts, she called for a whole-of-society approach and the establishment of a County Action Plan involving the Judiciary, county government, and relevant stakeholders.
6 August 2026 · The Standard →
Chief Justice Martha Koome has launched an Alternative Justice Systems framework in Bomet County designed to bring faster, more accessible dispute resolution through mediation, dialogue, and traditional mechanisms alongside the formal courts. The initiative brings together community elders, religious leaders, mediators, and civil society organizations, with registries established in Bomet and Sotik to coordinate referrals and maintain records, though serious criminal offences will remain under formal jurisdiction.
4 August 2026 · Capital News →
Kenya's High Court has issued interim orders stopping the Law Society of Kenya from disrupting court proceedings pending the determination of a preliminary objection to the court's jurisdiction. Justice David Mburu said the orders were necessary to restore order within the Judiciary and ensure court operations continue without interference.
3 August 2026 · Capital News →