CJ Koome urges new police service commissioners to steer accountability
Chief Justice Martha Koome on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, presided over the swearing-in of new members to key national bodies, calling for a transformative approach to policing amid heightened public unrest.
During the ceremony held at the Judiciary headquarters, Abdullah Kassim was sworn in as a member of the National Heroes Council, while Peris Muthoni Kimani, Benjamin Juma Imai, and Prof. Collete Suda officially joined the National Police Service Commission (NPSC).
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Addressing the appointees, Koome emphasised their vital role in steering the police service toward professionalism, ethical conduct, and responsiveness to public needs. She described them as custodians of the constitution’s vision for a people-centred, humane, and accountable police force.
Her remarks come in the wake of recent nationwide protests that left a number injured while others died, underscoring the urgent need to restore trust between the public and law enforcement.
Deadly Saba Saba demos
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), in a statement, confirmed that 10 individuals tragically lost their lives during the Saba Saba anniversary demonstrations, which unfolded across seventeen counties in the country on July 7, 2025.
Additionally, the Commission has documented 29 cases of injuries, 2 incidents of abduction, and 37 arrests directly linked to the protests.
Koome urged citizens to exercise their constitutional right to protest peacefully and without arms or acts of destruction. At the same time, she called on the police to demonstrate restraint, proportionality, and full adherence to human rights in their response to demonstrations.
“The police must distinguish between peaceful demonstrators and those who infiltrate protests to incite violence or loot,” she said, directing the new commissioners to ensure such individuals are processed through the justice system, not subjected to blanket crackdowns.
Her leadership continues to shape reform efforts within the justice sector, including the recent launch of specialised gender-based violence courts in Kisumu and Siaya to address femicide cases, which have been on the rise.
Koome’s call reflects a broader push for democratic policing that protects rights while preserving order.
The new commissioners now carry the responsibility of implementing these ideals, with the goal of fostering a professional and trusted police service that serves all Kenyans.
