Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Court of Kenya, Hon. Martha Koome, has reaffirmed the Judiciary’s commitment to supporting IPOA in its pursuit of police accountability, a move that is likely to hasten the trial of police officers in court.
Hon. Koome, emphasized that IPOA plays a critical role in ensuring police accountability and justice for victims of police misconduct. She spoke during a familiarization visit by the IPOA Board to her Supreme Court office last week..
The CJ’s remarks came against the backdrop of IPOA Chairperson Ahmed Issack Hassan’s call for the the fast-tracking of IPOA-led cases that are pending in court. Mr Hassan had pointed out that, owing to its mandate, most of the Authority’s cases are of public interest, which calls for expeditious hearing and delivery of justice.
Hon. Koome commended the IPOA Board, for laying a strong foundation in the early stages of its tenure by seeking institutional cooperation with Criminal Justice System stakeholders. “This is a timely meeting that gives us an opportunity to see how we can strengthen the institutions we represent. I commend the Chairperson and the Commissioners for taking initiative to strengthen accountability, as early as now.”
The discussions underscored the importance of synergy between IPOA and the Judiciary as a key driver of police reforms.
“Hon. CJ, we appreciate you acknowledging that the responsibility in our hands is big and delivery requires synergy. We have to overcome all the inefficiencies and ensure that justice is served to victims of police misconduct”, said Chairperson Ahmed Issack.
The Chief Justice encouraged the IPOA Board to stay resilient in the face of any challenges encountered during its oversight journey, assuring that the Judiciary is fully committed to supporting IPOA to fulfil its mandate.
IPOA Commissioner Muchiri Nyaga lauded the CJ for her commitment, noting that the Judiciary is a powerful arm of the government and Kenyans are relying heavily on it for the protection and promotion of their fundamental rights and freedoms.
The meeting was also attended by IPOA CEO Elema Halake, IPOA’s Deputy Director of Legal Services Festus Kinoti, and officials from the CJ’s office.
