Kenya Supreme Court judges reject recusal bid in car allowance case

The Supreme Court of Kenya has rejected an application by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) to recuse Chief Justice Martha Koome and Justice Mohammed Warsame from a case regarding the taxation of judges' car allowances.

The SRC argued that the commission could not receive a fair hearing due to potential bias, citing previous remarks by the Chief Justice that described the SRC as an ‘enemy of the Judiciary’. However, the judges declined to step aside, stating they have no conflict of interest and intend to focus solely on interpreting the Constitution.

Separately, religious and civil society groups have called for a review of the Ksh10 million vehicle grants provided to judges. These groups argue that the benefits impose an undue burden on taxpayers, noting that judges already receive state-funded chauffeur-driven vehicles. They suggest the funds, estimated to total significant amounts over a four-year period, could be better utilized for public services such as health, education, and water projects.