
The already intensifying clash between former Law Society of Kenya President Nelson Havi and Chief Justice Martha Koome erupted further today as Havi called for a nationwide protest demanding her resignation.
Speaking after the petition he filed with the Judicial Service Commission was stalled by court rulings, Havi rallied supporters, declaring the campaign against Koome had entered a new, public phase. “This is no longer a courtroom fight—it is my war, and the people must take it to the streets,” he proclaimed, directly challenging the institution’s authority.
The root of the conflict lies in Havi’s petition alleging gross misconduct by Koome. He condemns her for setting up a judicial bench to hear her own case—one filed against the Judicial Service Commission—pointing to a glaring conflict of interest and a breach of judicial ethics. His petition claims that she inappropriately appointed junior judges to preside over a matter in which she is a litigant.
Havi has repeatedly accused Koome of violating Chapter Six of the Constitution, blaming her leadership for eroding public trust in the Judiciary. In response to mounting pressure, Koome and her fellow judges obtained conservatory orders halting the JSC from proceeding with the removal petition—an action that Havi says has only inflamed popular outrage.
Now, Havi is pushing back with street action. His call to mobilize is a direct challenge to both the Judiciary and the executive’s capacity to manage dissent. Citizens aligned with his call have begun coordinating through social media, preparing for what could become an unprecedented demonstration led by a private lawyer against the head of Kenya’s judicial system.