The United Nations is considering sending the Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers to Kenya for a fact-finding mission, following reports of increasing cyberattacks targeting the Judiciary. Chief Justice Martha Koome disclosed the UN’s planned intervention on Monday during the opening of the 2025 Judges Colloquium, themed “Digital Transformation, Technology and Law – Tech Justice.”
CJ Koome welcomed the UN’s interest, describing the move as timely and necessary. She said an external assessment would provide Kenya with global insights on strengthening judicial resilience against digital threats. “The planned visit would help the Judiciary take stock of the challenges it faces and offer authoritative recommendations on safeguarding the independence of judges and courts,” she noted.
Highlighting the risks posed by technology, Koome observed that while digital tools had expanded access to justice, social media platforms had increasingly been weaponized to intimidate and discredit judges. She warned that the rise in cyberbullying, targeted harassment, and orchestrated online campaigns over the past year was not ordinary criticism but deliberate attempts to weaken the Judiciary’s moral authority.
The Chief Justice stressed that such a hostile online environment could create a chilling effect, pressuring judicial officers to align their decisions with political or commercial interests and thereby undermining impartiality and fairness. These challenges, she noted, compounded existing pressures from heavy caseloads and the emotional demands of sensitive disputes.
To address the well-being of judicial officers, Koome highlighted the Judiciary Families Initiative, aimed at supporting mental wellness and resilience within the institution. She emphasized that judicial independence is not merely freedom from external influence but the assurance that judges can perform their duties without fear of reprisal whether political, physical, or digital.
Koome urged stakeholders, including the government, the public, and international partners, to collaborate in mitigating emerging threats to the Judiciary. She warned that erosion of confidence in the courts could undermine democracy itself, stressing that protecting judicial independence was essential for upholding justice, rights, and the rule of law in Kenya.
The UN mission is expected to provide an objective assessment of these challenges and recommend measures to strengthen protections for judicial officers and institutions amid a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
