Judicial officers raise 7 demands after death of Magistrate Monica Kivuti
By Joel Sang, June 16, 2024
Following the death of Magistrate Monica Kivuti at the Makadara Law Courts, the Executive Council, the National Council of the Kenya Magistrates and Judges Association, and the leadership of the Kenya Judges Welfare Association and Kenya Judiciary Staff Association have raised seven demands that must be met for their own security.
Kivuti died after she was shot over a ruling on June 13, 2024. The associations representing the judicial officers have raised demands that they hope will enhance their security as they discharge their duties.
Demands by judicial officers
The officers, who include judges, magistrates, kadhis, registrars, deputy registrars, and judicial staff from June 19 to 21, 2024, will not report to work.
“This is subject to review for extension if circumstances dictate inaction. That forthwith, the members of the KMJA and the KJSA shall not conduct any judicial proceedings in the open air, whether under a tent, container, any makeshift structure, or otherwise,” a joint statement read in part.
The members of the KMJA and the KJSA have also vowed that they shall only conduct judicial proceedings from professionally approved buildings.
“Attacks and killing of judicial officers for doing that which is delegated to them by Kenyans and neglecting their welfare, according to the unions, are just but living forms of threats to justice,” the statement dated June 16, 2024, added.
“Forthwith, there shall be strict adherence to security check protocols, and no object unrelated to the business of the court, or firearm other than that held by a designated officer of the court as shall be authorized by the officer in charge of security of the court shall be allowed into the court or court station by any court user.”
The associations say members of KMJA and the KJSA shall only conduct their proceedings after ascertaining that there is a provision for armed security in the courts.
“There is no court user who shall be allowed in the court premises while in any form of concealment of faces in whatever manner, unless on ascertainable medical or security grounds,” they further demanded.
The officers have also demanded that the judges’, magistrates’ and kadhis’ designated private chambers shall not be used for conducting the would-be open court judicial proceedings.
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