Chief Justice Martha Koome talked about the recent anti-government protests, asking the police and citizens to maintain the law and guard the nation’s democracy.
Addressing the audience on Tuesday during the swearing-in of the new National Police Service Commission (NPSC) commissioners and a National Heroes Council member, CJ Koome noted that such moments remind one of the fine balance between the right to peaceful assembly as enshrined in the constitution and the requirement for people-centered professional policing.
“In recent times, our country and our democratic fabric have come under strain through waves of public protests,” Koome said.
Koome underscored that the Constitution secures the right to demonstrate but citizens should do it in a peaceful and responsible manner.
“Members of the public must exercise their right to protest peacefully, without carrying arms, and without engaging in acts of destruction, looting, or vandalism of public infrastructure such as government buildings and court infrastructure, or private businesses,” she said.
At the same time, Koome urged police officers to respect human rights as they carry out their duties.
“The police must respond with restraint, proportionality, and strict adherence to human rights standards, avoiding actions that could cause unnecessary harm or loss of life,” she said.
She also challenged the officers to differentiate between peaceful protesters and lawbreakers who exploit demonstrations to cause destruction.
“It is also incumbent upon the police to distinguish between peaceful demonstrators and criminal elements, those who infiltrate protests to incite violence and loot, and to apprehend and process such individuals through the justice system,” she remarked.
Koome emphasized the key role the National Police Service Commission plays in assisting in the formulation of a professional, responsible, and people-focused police service.
She described the commission as the “custodians and implementers of the Constitution’s vision for democratic policing.”
Koome further vowed the Judiciary as a whole to backing the commission’s work, stating that the justice sector would continue to engage with the police to uphold the rule of law and build trust from the public.
“The Judiciary, and indeed the entire justice sector, through the National Council on the Administration of Justice (NCAJ), stands ready to support your mission,” she said.
She also called on the new appointees to lead with courage, dignity, and firm devotion to the public interest.
