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RT HON LADY JUSTICE MARTHA KOOME
CHIEF JUSTICE & PRESIDENT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF KENYA
Rt Hon Lady Justice Martha Koome was appointed Chief Justice (CJ) and President of the Supreme Court of Kenya in May 2021, making her the first woman in Kenya to hold this position.
CJ Martha Koome is not afraid to speak truth to power when the integrity of the constitution is at stake. She grabbed national headlines less than a year after her appointment when she quashed broad constitutional reforms dubbed Building Bridges Initiatives (BBI).
CJ Martha Koome chaired the seven-judge bench that oversaw the petitions challenging the outcome of the 2022 Presidential Elections. The apex court ruled that the results were valid under the constitution and electoral law. This paved the way for a peaceful transition of power from the Fourth to the Fifth President of the Republic of Kenya.
CJ Martha Koome is a strong advocate of peace and unity, and constantly challenges the political class on numerous occasions to rise above petty politics. She once quipped at a National Prayer Breakfast, “I pray for those who might be tempted to divide our nation for their selfish reasons. This country belongs to everyone, and not just politicians.”
CJ Martha Koome has harnessed the potential of digital technology by implementing virtual courts and digital recording of proceedings. This strategic move not only brings justice closer to the people but also enhances the accuracy and efficiency of court operations. Leveraging technology has also reduced the incidences of missing court records.
Furthermore, she has established additional courts in far-flung and remote regions of Kenya in a bid to bring justice to the doorsteps of the citizenry.
CJ Martha Koome has also increased specialised divisions within the High Court and the Court of Appeal. Her commitment to increasing the appointment of judges for both courts has been instrumental in reducing the backlog of cases.
After studying law at the University of Nairobi (UoN) and graduating from the Kenya School of Law (KSL) in 1987, CJ Martha Koome started her career as a Legal Associate in 1988. She would later start her own law firm as Managing Partner in 1993.
CJ Martha Koome cut her teeth in private practice representing political detainees. She was also among the bold lawyers involved in the clamour to repeal Section 2A of the old Constitution which made the country a one-party state.
Keen on influencing the legal profession in Kenya more actively, she successfully contested for council membership in the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), serving on the council between 1993 and 1996. CJ Martha Koome also served as the inaugural treasurer in the East Africa Law Society between 1994 and 1996.
She was a Founding Member of the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) and was elected Chair of the organisation in 1997, serving for two consecutive terms. She led FIDA in championing the establishment of the family division of the High Court, as well as the enactment of laws to protect the rights of families and children.
After more than a decade in private practice, CJ Martha Koome moved to the bench in 2003 following her appointment to the High Court by former President Mwai Kibaki.
CJ Martha Koome obtained her Master of Public International Law (LLM) degree from the University of London in 2010. Two years later, she was promoted to the Court of Appeal.
CJ Martha Koome’s achievements have won her supporters in Kenya and around the world. She was in 2020 honoured as a United Nations (UN) Kenya Person of the Year runner-up for her advocacy to improve the legal rights of women and children in the justice system. She has also been an active and long-standing Member of the International Association of Women Judges Kenya Chapter, which focuses on access to justice for women and children.
A wife and mother of three, CJ Martha Koome comes from very humble beginnings. She defied her circumstances and showed great promise in school, topping her class at Mugoiri Girls High School before proceeding to UoN.
In her role as the Chief Justice, she has infused the Office with dignity, grace and maturity, displaying a keen sense of discernment when deciding which battles to engage in.
