The Judiciary of Kenya has formally requested the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to launch investigations into Senior Counsel Ahmednasir Abdullahi over what it terms as persistent, baseless attacks against the institution and its judges.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Tuesday by Judiciary Spokesperson Hon. Paul Ndemo, the Judiciary accused Ahmednasir of leading a “relentless but unsubstantiated” campaign on social media, alleging judicial corruption without providing evidence or following due process.
“For months, Senior Counsel Ahmednasir has used social media platforms to make sensational allegations of judicial corruption,” read the statement. “However, he has not named any specific Judges, nor has he filed any formal complaint with the Judicial Service Commission or law enforcement agencies.”
The Judiciary condemned the conduct as not only unprofessional but also damaging to public trust in the country’s justice system, particularly coming from an advocate of Ahmednasir’s senior standing. “This pattern of conduct is not only unbecoming and unprofessional of an advocate with the status of senior counsel, but it also has the potential to erode trust in the Judiciary and undermine the very constitutional democracy we uphold,” the statement said.
While reaffirming its openness to scrutiny and commitment to transparency, the Judiciary stressed that criticism must be grounded in truth and presented through appropriate legal channels. It called on the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and the Senior Counsel Bar to take disciplinary action against Ahmednasir, citing the need for mutual respect and integrity within the legal profession.
“The legal profession must uphold discipline and integrity. The Bar and the Bench must maintain mutual respect and public trust,” the Judiciary emphasized.
The Judiciary also issued a warning against the misuse of the constitutional right to free speech, cautioning that freedom of expression should not be a tool for impunity or the erosion of public institutions. “There are limits to this freedom. It cannot be used as a shield for impunity or to foster public mistrust in the judicial system,” said Ndemo.
Reflecting on Kenya’s history, the Judiciary highlighted the dangers of declining public confidence in the courts, referencing past national trauma linked to judicial mistrust. “Any actions that threaten to take us back to that painful chapter must not be ignored,” it warned.
Concluding the statement, the Judiciary called upon the DPP to act within his constitutional mandate, asserting that no individual is above the law. “Kenya is greater than any individual. No one should mock the Constitution that binds us as a nation.”
This move marks a rare but significant escalation by the Judiciary against one of the country’s most prominent legal figures and underscores growing concerns over the impact of unsubstantiated public attacks on judicial independence and the rule of law.