Kenya's Chief Justice Martha Koome has called on law enforcement to shift its focus from the young men who carry out political violence to the people who pay and organise them, according to The Star, Kenya. Speaking on Tuesday, 3 November 2026, at the launch of the National Council on the Administration of Justice (NCAJ) Strategic Plan 2026–2030, Koome said those bankrolling gangs of goons should answer for the country's rising cases of political violence.
The Chief Justice argued that the individuals who recruit and finance such groups ought to face grave charges, including organised crime, because powerful figures are keeping the violence going. The Star, Kenya reports that she described the foot soldiers as young people who are being sustained by others.
Why it matters
The remarks come as Kenya prepares for a general election in 2027, and they touch on a concern the Chief Justice said is shared widely: that intimidation could stop citizens from casting their ballots. Koome said Kenyans are worried about violence because it can come between them and the exercise of their right to vote, and she described the growth of goon activity as a matter of national anxiety.
Her intervention also signals how the Judiciary intends to handle cases arising from political violence. According to The Star, Kenya, she suggested that the current approach produces weak cases against low-level offenders, who are often released on bond or bail because the offences they are charged with are minor. Targeting the organisers, she said, would allow courts to treat the matter with the seriousness it deserves.
A new division for serious cases
Koome disclosed that the Judiciary has gazetted a Serious Crime Division of the High Court, which she said will assist in handling grave criminal matters. The Star, Kenya reports that she used the platform to assure the public that the courts would deal firmly with anyone charged with serious offences connected to the organisation of violence.
She framed the effort as part of a broader commitment to constitutional governance, saying the Judiciary is determined that Kenya remains a country run under the rule of law and the constitution. In her view, cooperation among institutions can make the country safe and secure for everyone.
The Chief Justice also pressed security agencies to trace the money and the networks behind the gangs. She noted that Kenya has only about 1,800 elective positions, which she said makes the field small enough to map, and asked who is bankrolling the goons. The Star, Kenya reports that she posed the question directly to those tasked with investigations.
Judiciary says it has no candidate in the race
Koome further stated that the Judiciary has no preferred candidate in the political contest, saying its role is to protect the rule of law and to ensure citizens can take part in elections without fear or intimidation. She also urged stakeholders to keep supporting the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission as preparations for the 2027 polls advance.
The event where she spoke was the launch of the NCAJ's strategic plan covering 2026 to 2030, a document meant to guide coordination across the justice sector over the next four years. Her comments place the problem of political violence squarely within that planning framework, linking the courts' administrative choices to the safety of the electoral process.
What to watch is whether police and prosecutors act on the call by pursuing financiers and organisers, and how the newly gazetted Serious Crime Division handles any such cases as the 2027 campaign period approaches.
