The Judiciary has refuted the assertion that Chief Justice Martha Koome is overprotected by the state.

Former Law Society of Kenya (LSK) president Nelson Havi claimed on X that Koome has a total of 32 state security officers guarding her.

The lawyer annexed a document to his tweet indicating the distribution of the said officers, ranging from drivers to bodyguards.

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Others were indicated to have been stationed at Koome's residence(s).

"CJ Martha Koome is allocated 32 known police officers to guard her, a huge number by all means. The temporary recall of three for training and promotion cannot be a withdrawal of her security. She must be called out for the dishonesty displayed on this sensitive issue," claimed Havi.

But in a quick rebuttal, the Judiciary denied there being such a number of officers around the chief justice.

The third arm of the government flagged Havi's as a deliberate fake, adding that it was inaccurate and misleading.

"This is not just inaccurate-it is purposefully deceptive," read its tweet.

This comes days after Koome accused the state of taking away her security detail.

Koome addressed a letter to Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja decrying the alleged move.

She did not explain the reason behind the withdrawal of her security.

The CJ said that having her security in place is not a favour from the state but a prerogative that the government ought to sustain.

According to Koome, her security and that of other judicial officers is a necessity that guarantees the flawless dispensing of justice as expected of the Judiciary.

Besides her personal woes, Koome lamented the weakening of the Judiciary Police Unit, which she revealed has lost a significant number of officers, thus exposing the judicial officers to security challenges.

The CJ revealed the state had recalled many officers from the unit without replacing them, hence making it weak.

She argued that, with such challenges, the personnel in the justice system cannot effectively deliver on their mandate.

Koome was concerned that such acts of apparent sabotage by the state actors would leave the Judiciary and the Executive in a conflict that would consequently interfere with the independence of the arm of government that she presides over.

Koome petitioned the National Police Service (NPS) and relevant state authorities to address the matter.

The Interior CS seemed to downplay Koome's concerns, suggesting they were farfetched.

Murkomen suggested Koome should have thanked the police inspector general for promoting officers in her security team rather than raising public concerns.

The CS criticised Koome's public outcry, claiming it painted the government in a negative light globally and implied a sinister plot against her.

He reassured that despite some officers reportedly being sent for training, the chief justice still retained a robust security detail with approximately 29 officers.

Proofreading by Asher Omondi, current affairs journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.

Source: TUKO.co.ke