Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has dismissed claims linking the government to petitions aimed at removing high-ranking judges from office.
In a statement on Monday, Kindiki emphasized that the process of removing a judge is strictly constitutional and should not be politicized. He urged those making accusations to follow legal channels rather than resorting to ethnic narratives that diminish the seriousness of the issue.
“Judge removal is a constitutional matter, not a political or ethnic issue. Defenders and accusers must argue legally, not through tribal affiliations. Who defends innocent judges without ethnic backing?” Kindiki questioned.
His remarks follow former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s strong opposition to petitions seeking to remove Chief Justice Martha Koome. Speaking at AIPCA St. Joseph’s Church in Meru County on Sunday, Gachagua called for the CJ to be allowed to perform her duties without interference, warning that he would call for protests if she were ousted.
“This woman (Koome) is being targeted because she refuses to be a ‘yes man’,” Gachagua asserted.
Thirteen lawyers from Ahmednasir Abdullahi Advocates LLP have petitioned the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) for the removal of CJ Koome and six Supreme Court judges.
However, on February 21, 2025, CJ Koome successfully petitioned the High Court to suspend further proceedings at the JSC regarding her removal. In her filing at the Milimani Law Courts, Koome argued that the JSC lacks the constitutional authority to handle such claims against her or other Supreme Court judges.
