CJ Koome Given Ultimatum to Resign by Nelson Havi

Former Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Nelson Havi has issued a stern ultimatum to Chief Justice Martha Koome and the entire Supreme Court, demanding her resignation by Monday, January 14, 2025. Speaking on Sunday, January 12, Havi warned that failure to comply would lead to a formal petition for the removal of all seven Supreme Court judges.

“The deadline I gave for CJ Martha Koome to resign is January 14,” Havi stated. “The six other judges of the Supreme Court can prevail upon her to step down. If not, all seven will have to go.”

Havi accused the judiciary under Koome of fostering a culture of corruption and inefficiency. He cited incidents of judges missing key sessions without valid reasons and delivering delayed judgments. One such case involved High Court Judge Lawrence Mugambi, who delivered only two out of seven scheduled rulings in December, attributing delays to illness and workload.

“The ultimate responsibility for this state of affairs lies with the Chief Justice, who assigns non-judicial duties to judges, interrupting scheduled proceedings,” Havi wrote in a prior complaint to Koome.

Despite the criticisms, Havi denied holding a personal grudge against the Chief Justice, clarifying that his concerns stemmed from the judiciary’s adherence to the doctrine of decisional independence, which he claimed allowed corruption to thrive unchecked.

“My concern is her tolerance for corruption within the judiciary,” he stated during a recent interview.

Havi’s latest demands follow months of pressure from senior legal figures calling for reforms in the judiciary. The Supreme Court judges now face the prospect of a formal petition for their removal if no action is taken by Monday.