Chief Justice Martha Koome has called for a careful balance between safeguarding the constitutional right to peaceful protest and ensuring law and order through disciplined, rights-based policing.

Speaking on July 8, 2025, during the swearing-in of new members to the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) and the National Heroes Council, Koome urged both citizens and police officers to act with restraint and within the law.

“You are taking office at a time when the nation is navigating significant challenges to its democratic foundations due to a surge in public protests,” she told the new commissioners.

She emphasized that recent events have underscored the need to maintain a delicate equilibrium between allowing peaceful assembly and enforcing the law in a manner that respects human dignity.

While affirming that Kenyans have every right to protest, she was clear that such actions must remain non-violent and free from vandalism or looting.

“It is deeply distressing for any citizen to see their hard-earned property destroyed,” Koome said, condemning the destruction of public and private infrastructure witnessed during the recent demonstrations.

She also issued a strong message to the police, urging them to maintain professionalism in the face of unrest. Law enforcement, she said, must respond with fairness, proportionality, and full adherence to human rights standards.

She warned against indiscriminate use of force and stressed the importance of identifying and lawfully apprehending individuals who exploit protests for criminal activity.

Koome reminded the incoming commissioners that they now shoulder the responsibility of steering the police service toward a model rooted in the values of the Constitution one that is ethical, transparent, and responsive to the public.

“Your contribution will be central to building a policing culture that puts people first and respects the rule of law,” she noted.

She further assured the commission of continued collaboration from the Judiciary through the National Council on the Administration of Justice (NCAJ), highlighting the importance of cohesion within the justice system in upholding citizen rights and public trust.

Turning to the National Heroes Council, Koome congratulated Abdullahi Nur Sheikh Kassim on his appointment and emphasized the council’s role in preserving national heritage by celebrating those who have made significant contributions to the country.

She encouraged timely recognition of living heroes and those whose everyday acts make a lasting impact in their communities.

In closing, the Chief Justice urged all the appointees to approach their responsibilities with integrity, humility, and courage. She reminded them that the oaths they had taken were binding pledges to serve the public with honor and dedication.

The ceremony came at a time of rising national tension, following countrywide protests driven by economic hardship and political discontent events that have sparked public debate over protest conduct and police accountability.