Murkomen Argues CJ Koome Said Too Much On Withdrawal Of Her Security
The CS assured CJ Koome that she was definitely safe, clarifying that only three of her 29 security officers were withdrawn
Viral Tea Ke Writer 
Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kipchumba Murkomen is now accusing Chief Justice Martha Koome of oversharing details surrounding the withdrawal of her security as she lamented on Thursday evening, January 23.
Murkomen spoke in Diani on Friday, January 24 during the launch of the National Government Administration Police Unit (NGAP), hours after the CJ raised alarm over the withdrawal of her personal security and police officers from the Judiciary Police Unit.
The CS assured CJ Koome that she was safe, clarifying that only three of her 29 security officers were withdrawn and that the security officers had been promoted and had left for training, shutting down claims of a scheme against her.
Murkomen disclosed that he had spoken with the President of the Supreme Court of Kenya and Inspector-General of Police Douglas Kanja to clarify the situation, urging cooperation among public offices.
CJ Martha Koome during Supreme Court proceedings on the 2022 presidential election petition. /ZAKHEEM RAJAN
“When officers are promoted, they need to undergo training. Unfortunately, the Chief Justice went too public about this issue. However, I assured her that the matter would be resolved,” he stated.
“This was a minor issue that should not have been escalated. The CJ remains adequately protected with about 29 officers, and her safety, as well as that of other judges, is guaranteed."
The CS emphasised the need for teamwork between the judiciary and other arms of government, calling upon CJ Koome to allow the government and the Judiciary to work together. “Promoting junior officers is beneficial for the country and ensures their morale remains high. This decision was made purely based on officer promotions and not with any ill motive,” Murkomen stated.
The CS questioned how a personal letter addressed to him was shared with the public, leading to many possibly believing that there was a scheme to deny her security.
The CJ protested the move, arguing that it was tantamount to Executive interference with the Judiciary contrary to the Constitution’s demands for independence of both arms of government. While CJ Koome did not specify the exact number of officers withdrawn, the Kenya Magistrates and Judges Association claimed that 23 officers under the Judiciary Police Unit had been affected.
"The IG thought he was doing the officers a favour by promoting them but it appears that same favour has hit the IG hard. Ordinarily, the CJ should have called the IG to say thank you for promoting her officers. Unfortunately, it has gone the other way," the CS remarked.
"We want to assure the CJ that it was a small matter and it did not necessitate raising the alarm. People all over the world now think that there is a scheme somewhere to deny the CJ security."
Murkomen went on to assure her that she was protected well enough as a public officer, adding that the National Police Service (NPS) had overdeployed enough personnel to guarantee her safety.
"The Chief Justice is among public officers who are well taken care of in terms of her security. I know the manual says that she is entitled to 6 police officers as bodyguards but the CJ has been given up to 32 police officers," the CS added. "Even after the three were removed from training, the CJ was still going to remain with 29 officers."
