In the wake of the shocking shooting of Justice Monica Kivuti during a live court session at the Makadara Law Courts in Nairobi, the Kenya Magistrates and Judges Association (KMJA) and the Kenya Judiciary Staff Association (KJSA) have jointly voiced serious concerns about the safety of judicial officers while on duty.
In a statement released by both associations, they outlined several measures aimed at bolstering security in courtrooms following the incident last Thursday. Among the key proposals is the prohibition of individuals with concealed faces from entering court premises unless they have proven medical or security reasons.
Additionally, the associations have stipulated that judicial proceedings should no longer be conducted in open-air settings, such as under tents, containers, or any makeshift structures. “Furthermore, no proceedings shall be conducted unless there are armed officers present in court,” the statement read.
The associations also emphasized that judicial proceedings should only take place in professionally approved buildings, with strict adherence to security check protocols. They specified that “no object unrelated to the business of the court or firearm, other than those held by designated court officers as authorized by the officer in charge of court security, shall be allowed into the court or court station by any court user.”
In a further show of discontent with current working conditions, the KMJA and KJSA have announced a go-slow protest scheduled from June 19 to June 24, 2024. The protest aims to highlight the ‘poor work conditions’ faced by judicial officers and staff.
