In brief
Kenya's first female chief justice, Martha Koome, firmly denies ever being bribed and critiques the gender-based attacks against her while addressing rising violence against women.
Martha Koome, Kenya's pioneering female chief justice, has strongly refuted claims of corruption within the judiciary, stating, "In all these 22 years I’ve been a judge, nobody has ever approached me with a bribe. I would have them arrested." Recently, allegations have surfaced suggesting she failed to combat corruption effectively, sparking discussions around “jurispesa,” a term combining jurisprudence and pesa (Swahili for money). In response to these charges, Koome challenges her accusers to provide concrete evidence to the authorities.She condemned the attacks as a manifestation of "total misogyny" and emphasized that such accusations aim to diminish her credibility. Koome has been vocal about her dedication to enhancing women's rights and combating gender-based violence, particularly in light of rising femicide rates in Kenya. The justice system grapples with significant challenges: since 2016, over 500 women have fallen victim to femicide, and cases of rape frequently stall in the court system. Advocating for change, Koome plans to establish specialized courts for sexual and gender-based crimes, aiming to prioritize these issues and expedite justice for victims. “Cases of gender-based violence must be given priority,” she asserts, promising a stronger focus on ensuring justice for women nationwide.
