From: Gordon Teti

REPUBLIC OF KENYA THE JUDICIARY OFFICE OF THE CHIEF JUSTICE September 27, 2013 STATEMENT ON THE HACKING OF THE CHIEF JUSTICE’S EMAIL AND OTHER ACTS OF CRIMINALITY

For a while now, the Judiciary has been grappling with the vulnerability of its communication, which has manifested itself in hacked e-mail accounts, the tapping of telephones, secret taping of meetings and the doctoring of official documents. The prevalence of these surveillance tactics has concerned the institution a great deal.

This country has fought long and hard to eliminate the culture of fear. Many people have paid a heavy price to eliminate this culture of being gratuitously spied on. In the past, reports have been made to the National Intelligence Service about people hacking into the Chief Justice’s Twitter account; and his email account has similarly been hacked in the past.

Keen to prevent the entrenchment of a mini police state within the institution, various efforts have been made to test whether or not the communication infrastructure in the Judiciary is secure. It cannot be normal that meetings are secretly taped, telephone conversations are habitually tapped and the email account of the Chief Justice – the head of an arm of government – can be routinely hacked.

The Judiciary leadership is determined to eliminate this surveillance culture by closing in on the small, cowardly and criminal enterprise that believes that it can violate official and private communication at will. Anyone who can hack an email can also doctor documents, and is essentially a criminal who deserves to be dealt with in accordance with the law.

This level of investment in surveillance is a clear indication of an overwhelming desire to control all communication. It also suggests that those behind it have something sinister to hide. It is a brazen attempt to take the institution hostage for financial, political, and administrative interests. Even judicial consultation and decisions would be at risk if this culture persists.

Whereas there are ongoing actions to review and audit the institution’s information and technology systems, the Judiciary is also investigating possible acts of criminality arising from the prevailing circumstances. The content of the statements published in a section of the media in reference to ongoing investigations within the Judiciary will not draw comment for now.

Indeed, as everyone is aware, the Judicial Service Commission has scrupulously followed due process and studiously avoided issuing statements on these investigations to steer clear of prejudicing the public interest or private reputations.

The Judiciary leadership is determined to conclude this matter in the right forum, and not to try any issue in the media.

Kwamchesti Makokha
Communication Office
Office of the Chief Justice

NOTE from the desk of Gordon Teti
It is payback time for the “six people” who presided over the presidential election petition at the Supreme Court following the contested Kenya presidential elections in March 2013. Surely, whoever said choices have consequences! Mutunga and his team are reaping the benefits of endorsing a rigged presidential victory.