Nairobi: Officials of the Kenya Judicial Staff Association (KJSA) have expressed concerns over Wednesday’s attacks that targeted a number of law courts and judicial staff. In a press statement, the President of KJSA, Micah Miruka, backed by the Secretary General Oscar Soi, said the attacks on various courts during the protests meant to mark the anniversary of Gen-Z demonstrations were uncalled for, stating that vital legal records were destroyed.
According to Kenya News Agency, Miruka noted that the judicial members of staff working in the affected courts were left traumatized and in a state of panic, thus undermining their ability to serve the public effectively. During Wednesday’s protests, Kikuyu, Dagoretti, Ol Kalou, and Thika law courts were attacked, with some of the courts being set on fire.
“At Kikuyu law courts, our team was able to leave just moments before the arson attack, while in Dagoretti, several colleagues narrowly escaped to safety at a police camp until much later in the night before they could be assisted to reach their homes. Similar circumstances were witnessed in Thika, where officers were holed inside the court compound for hours into the night,” indicated Miruka.
He called for enhanced security measures in Thika, Dagoretti, and Kikuyu law courts to protect judicial premises and personnel. “The KJSA calls upon the relevant authorities to take immediate action to safeguard judicial infrastructure and ensure the safety of all judicial staff as they carry out their duties. Where credible threats of unrest exist, courts must either be secured with heightened protection or temporarily closed to prevent exposing staff to harm,” added the KJSA president.
Miruka observed that instances of security breaches at courts are well documented, including the gun attack that ended the life of a judicial officer while on duty sometime back. “The security needs of judicial staff considering the inherent risks for this kind of duty cannot be overemphasized,” he underscored.
He proposed that during times of protests, courts should remain closed to avoid unnecessary exposure to risks of personal harm. “We urge all judicial members of staff to remain vigilant, monitor developments closely, stay at home where they may be at risk, and immediately contact KJSA leadership should they feel unsafe or require assistance. Our collective resilience and adherence to safety protocols will be paramount in navigating these challenges,” he remarked.