On September 1, 2017, the Supreme Court of Kenya delivered a decision that reverberated far beyond the courtroom. In nullifying the presidential election, the Court asserted that public power is subject to the Constitution. For the Judiciary, it was a defining test of independence, courage and legitimacy.
As the country looks towards the 2027 General Election, that moment assumes renewed significance. The question is no longer whether the Judiciary can rise to the occasion, but if it has sustained the public confidence that such moments demand, especially in a climate of heightened civic awareness and growing protests over economic governance and fiscal policies.
