Nelson Havi reacts after CJ Koome blasts him over Tweets on BBI case

Former Law Society of Kenya President Nelson Havi has responded to Chief Justice Martha Koome’s remarks that he should stop attacking the Judiciary on Social media.

In an interview with NTV, Havi said he never expected such comments from the CJ since that was a direct attack on their freedom of expression which is enshrined in the constitution.

“We must be given the opportunity to objectively critique what the judges have said … a judge has no function checking on Twitter or the press about what we are saying about them, a judge cannot be immune from scrutiny.” Havi noted.

Nelson Havi: We must be given the opportunity to objectively critique what the judges have said … a judge has no function checking on Twitter or the press about what we are saying about them, a judge cannot be immune from scrutiny. #BBIFinalVerdict pic.twitter.com/hcmzr2sN93

— NTV Kenya (@ntvkenya) March 31, 2022

In an address to lawyers Havi, Esther Angawa and Ahmednassir, the Chief Justice said the trio’s conduct in social media amounts to professional misconduct.

As the BBI session came to an end on Thursday 31, Koome took the opportunity to remind them to stop disparaging judicial officers with sub-judicial comments on pending cases and prosecuting cases or impugning proceedings in social media.

“In the course of writing this judgment, the court observed with concern some commentaries carried out in the social media by some counsel, some of whom are appearing in this matter,” Koome said.

Adding: “They cast aspersions on the court. For counsel to appear before the apex court and then proceed to hull unnecessary diatribe, insults and speculation  on pending judgments amounts to unethical conducts on the part of the counsel.

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