Chief Justice Martha Koome presiding over admission of 920 advocates to the bar on November 20, 2025/SCREENGRABChief Justice Martha Koome has revealed that she came under pressure to drastically reduce the number of advocates admitted to the bar during the latest admission ceremony—pressure she says she firmly rejected in favour of fairness, merit and principle.
Speaking on Thursday, November 20, 2025, during the admission of 920 new advocates, Koome recounted how some voices had urged the Judiciary to admit only half the cohort to avoid public scrutiny and online criticism, but she stood her ground.
Koome narrated that as she reviewed the requests for admission, she was confronted with suggestions that the Judiciary should only admit about 450 candidates, leaving the rest to await a later date.
"Some people were saying that we can escape from the attacks on social media if we can admit half of you, 450. I showed them the door," she started.
According to Koome, the proposal was not only unjust but undermined the years of academic effort, examinations and professional training the candidates had undergone.
Her response was emphatic: “Shaitani ashindwe!”
The CJ said the suggestion offended her sense of justice and fairness. She questioned how the Judiciary could justify holding back qualified candidates after years of sacrifice, study and investment simply to appease online commentary.
To her, the idea ran contrary to the constitutional ethos of equity and merit.
“These are our children,” she told the gathering.
“They have gone to school for so many years. I can’t imagine being taught, tested, examined and certified, then I hold them back from admission simply because we fear social media.”
Her firm opposition ensured that all 920 candidates were admitted—an act she described as both a moral duty and an affirmation of the Judiciary’s independence.
Koome also used the story to encourage the new advocates to stand firm in their own careers and make decisions that align with justice rather than convenience.
She reiterated that the Judiciary should not arbitrarily limit admission numbers when candidates have satisfied all regulatory and academic requirements.
The CJ added that she has not been presented with any advocate to strike off the roll during her tenure, emphasising that the legal profession’s challenge is not the number of entrants but ensuring they practise ethically and competently.
"I have not been brought any to strike off the row, and we are not just going to begin now with the 920," she revealed.
Her call to support, mentor and nurture young lawyers formed a central theme of her address.
In her closing message, Koome prayed for the advocates’ success and urged them to approach the profession with courage, humility and purpose.
She reminded them that their success will bring honour not just to themselves, but to their families, communities and the wider justice system.
