Chief justice Martha Koome addressing the press at Serena Beach Hotel in Mombasa County on October 28, 2027/ JOHN CHESOLI

Chief Justice Martha Koome has assured Kenyans that the Judiciary will remain independent and impartial in resolving electoral disputes arising from the 2027 General Election.

Koome further cautioned political leaders against drawing courts into political contests.

The Chief Justice said the Judiciary was strengthening its preparedness to handle election-related cases fairly, competently and within the strict timelines prescribed by the Constitution and electoral laws.

Speaking during a training workshop for judges on preparedness for electoral disputes in Mombasa, Koome reaffirmed the Judiciary’s commitment to upholding constitutional principles and protecting the integrity of the electoral dispute resolution process.

She urged political leaders, political parties, candidates and their supporters to respect the independence of the Judiciary and use established legal mechanisms to resolve electoral disagreements.

“We are preparing to adequately discharge our constitutional mandate of resolving electoral disputes independently, fairly and expeditiously,” Koome said.

She noted that electoral disputes often involve complex questions of law, evidence and electoral processes, making early preparation essential ahead of the August 2027 polls.

The Chief Justice said the Judiciary had rolled out a phased election dispute resolution training programme targeting more than 400 judges, judicial officers and other relevant personnel.

The programme is intended to strengthen the capacity of courts to handle disputes consistently and impartially while ensuring that cases are concluded within legally prescribed timelines.

Training sessions will cover results management and transmission, emerging electoral jurisprudence, appeals, digital evidence, electoral technology, active case management and professional ethics.

Koome said particular attention was being given to technological and evidential challenges arising from the increasing use of electronic records, digital communication and technology-based systems for managing election results.

She added that effective case management would be prioritised to ensure that proceedings remain fair and efficient without compromising the constitutional rights of parties involved.

The Judiciary is also assessing its human, financial and logistical requirements to ensure courts are adequately equipped to handle the expected workload during the election period.

Koome said adequate staffing, functional court registries, reliable technology and sufficient resources would be necessary to facilitate the timely determination of disputes.

Beyond courtroom preparedness, the Judiciary plans to strengthen public communication and access to information on electoral justice.

The Chief Justice said Kenyans needed accurate information on procedures for instituting electoral disputes and the legal principles guiding judicial decisions.

She said the Judiciary would engage the media and the public to improve understanding of electoral dispute resolution processes and counter misinformation.