Kenya’s first female Chief Justice Martha Koome has admitted that corruption remains a menace in and out of the judiciary, terming it “a national embarrassment”.
Ms Koome told international media she was concerned that the prosecution of cases involving corruption and embezzlement of public funds was taking too long.
The judiciary has long been marred by claims of corruption.
The second-most senior judge, Philomena Mwilu, is on trial for alleged abuse of office and taking of bribes but she denies any wrongdoing.
Chief Justice Koome said trust in the judiciary had waned and she was focusing on giving Kenyans an institution they can have confidence in and one that is relevant to them. The 61-year-old was appointed in May by President Uhuru Kenyatta after coming top of 10 candidates interviewed in front of a live television audience by Kenya’s Judicial Service Commission. END
