Kenya’s Chief Justice Attends SC Constitution Bench Hearing In Shiv Sena Case

Chief Justice of Kenya Martha K. Koome was present in the Supreme Court’s first bench on Tuesday to witness the Constitution Bench hearing in the Shiv Sena Case.

Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud welcomed her and the Kenyan Supreme Court delegation.

“We are extremely honoured to have Chief Justice Martha Koome, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Kenya, among us. Not the least of her accomplishments is that she is the country’s first female chief justice,” CJI DY Chandrachud stated welcoming her.

“She is an erudite judge who has written extensively, including on constitutional law issues in India. She recently issued a decision on the scope of the basic structure doctrine’s application in Kenya “, the CJI stated.

CJI Chandrachud also stated that she was a member of the bench that decided on the recognition of LGBTQ rights in Kenya.

Before the hearing, the judges briefed the Kenyan Chief Justice on the ongoing Shiv Sena case, according to the CJI Chandrachud. “We’ve given her a summary of what’s being argued here. We have tried to be as objective as possible in explaining the matter to her,” CJI stated.

On behalf of the bar, Senior Advocates Kapil Sibal and Mahesh Jethmalani welcomed Kenyan Chief Justice.

Sundaresh Menon, Singapore’s Chief Justice, attended the proceedings before the CJI’s bench last month.

Last week, a Kenyan Supreme Court delegation led by Chief Justice Martha Koome paid a visit to President Droupadi Murmu and met with Ministry of Law and Justice officials.