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CJ Koome: Bullying of judges on social media platforms should stop
Chief Justice Martha Koome during the official opening of the Annual Judges Colloquium in Mombasa on August 18, 2025. This year's theme is Digital Transformation, Technology and the Law as Judiciary seeks to have a robust digital transformation.
Chief Justice Martha Koome has decried rising cases of cyberbullying, targeted harassment and coordinated online campaigns against judges and judicial officers over the past year.
She said while social media has become an important platform for dialogue and information, it is increasingly being used to undermine the dignity of judicial officers.
“This sustained social media onslaught is not merely a passing wave of criticism; it is a calculated attempt to weaken the moral authority of the Judiciary and to intimidate judges into silence or bending the law to the whims of nefarious interests,” said Justice Koome.
Speaking on Monday during the opening of a five-day judges’ colloquium in Mombasa, the CJ stressed that the attacks underscore the need to reaffirm judicial independence as central to democracy.
According to her, critics have turned social media into a conduit for unfounded accusations, half-truths and defamatory allegations aimed at delegitimising judicial decisions.
“These attacks are not just directed at individual judges but are calculated to erode public confidence in the entire justice system,” she said.
CJ Koome warned that unchecked digital intimidation could create a chilling effect, pressuring judges to rule in line with political expedience or private interests rather than the Constitution and the law.
She noted that judicial independence is not only freedom from external control but also the ability of judges to carry out their duties without fear of reprisals—whether physical, political, or digital.
“Protecting that space of fearless adjudication is essential if the Judiciary is to continue playing its constitutional role as the last line of defense for justice, rights, and the rule of law,” she said.
The CJ disclosed that her office has received concern from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights over rising cyberattacks targeting the Judiciary. The UN is considering facilitating a visit to Kenya by the Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers for a fact-finding mission.
“We are hopeful this mission will materialise, for such external engagement by a global expert will not only help us take stock of the situation at home but also provide authoritative guidance on strengthening our resilience,” Koome said.
This year’s colloquium, themed “Digital Transformation, Technology and the Law”, has brought together judges from the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, High Court, Employment and Labour Relations Court, and the Environment and Land Court.
The CJ said technological innovation—from fintech to data privacy—continues to generate disputes requiring principled and informed adjudication. Judges, she added, must acquire the skills to resolve such disputes while embracing digital tools to enhance efficiency, transparency, and access to justice.
