The judiciary has raised concerns over the growing trend of violent disruptions within peaceful protests, calling on the National Police Service to take decisive action against goons who infiltrate demonstrations and endanger citizens.

In a statement released on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, the judiciary said the recent events had tested the conscience of our nation and expressed deep sorrow over the death of X influencer Albert Ojwang.

The judiciary also extended wishes for a quick and full recovery to those injured in the ongoing wave of demonstrations.

“The judiciary expresses its concern over rising incidents of unjustified police brutality and the growing trend of peaceful protests being infiltrated by goons who disrupt peaceful assemblies and endanger the lives of protestors,” said Judiciary Spokesperson Hon. Paul Ndemo.

He noted that the responsibility to address such criminal elements lies squarely with the police.

He added that it was equally incumbent upon the police to ensure that those orchestrating the unrest from behind the scenes — the financiers and masterminds of the chaos — are relentlessly pursued and brought to justice.

“The National Police Service bears a constitutional and legal duty to identify, apprehend, and prosecute such individuals, as well as those who sponsor or orchestrate these acts of violence,” he added.

With some of the related matters already before the courts, the judiciary assured the public that it remains committed to delivering impartial justice.

“We wish to assure the nation that the courts remain committed to their constitutional mandate to uphold justice, including in cases relating to police brutality and other forms of misconduct,” Ndemo said.

He further emphasised that such matters will be handled in a timely, impartial, and independent manner through processes anchored in the rule of law.

“We are committed to ensuring that these matters are processed through the justice system in a timely, impartial, and independent manner through processes anchored in the rule of law.”

CJ’s lack of response

Hon. Ndemo also addressed growing calls for the Chief Justice or individual judges to comment on specific ongoing cases, clarifying that judicial officers are bound by principles of impartiality, which prohibit them from discussing cases that may be subject to judicial proceedings.

He stated that the nation needed to recognise such limitations and to refrain from persistently pressuring judicial officers to comment on matters that fall beyond their mandate.

“It is important for the nation to appreciate that world-over, judges and even Chief Justices are constrained not to comment on matters that are likely to become the subject of court processes,” he said, noting that this protects the “impartiality and independence of judicial processes.”

He added that the judiciary had deliberately created the Office of the Spokesperson to respond to public concerns without breaching ethical limitations placed on judges.

“This is one of the reasons that informed the establishment of the Office of the Spokesperson for the Judiciary, so that a non-judicial officer can address public concerns without breaching the bar on judicial officers and judges from commenting on issues that are likely to be subject to judicial proceedings,” he explained.

The judiciary’s statement follows mounting pressure from the public and civil society for accountability following a series of fatal incidents involving police during demonstrations.

The latest now being that of the mask vendor who was shot on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, it remains to be seen how the government will respond to the mounting public outrage and whether concrete steps will be taken to address the growing crisis of police accountability and restore public trust in law enforcement.