Chief Justice Martha Koome on Thursday closed the Madaraka Law Courts until Monday, June 17 following a shooting incident that happened in the law courts.
In a statement issued by CJ Koome, the courts will remain closed to ensure security reinforcement with all matters to be heard virtually and those requiring physical appearance to be mentioned at the Milimani Law Courts.
Additionally, CJ Koome ordered the banning of all armed individuals from being allowed within the court premises with the exception of those accredited to offer security at court stations
“The Judiciary Police Unit in consultation with the Office of the Inspector General will reinforce security in all Court Stations across the country and ensure that persons are not allowed to access court premises while armed except for officers properly accredited to provide security at specified court stations,” stated Koome.
Further Koome instructed that the Judiciary together with the Office of Inspector General and connected National Council of Administration of Justice actors will review the security protocols regarding the handling of accused persons in the courtroom.
The Judiciary Security Committee will engage stakeholders to adopt and implement security measures for each Court station.
Further, CJ Koome stated that the Judiciary Building and Infrastructure committee will work with all the stakeholders to ensure that court room infrastructure was according to international standards that could guarantee the safety of judges.
Another directive issued was that the Chief Justice would convene an emergency meeting with the NCAJ that would discuss the causal factors of the situation while determining measures to avoid a similar occurence.
Additionally, officers posted to the judiciary will now be required to undergo specialized training.
In the afternoon incident which prompted the stern actions to be adopted, a cop bearing a fireman budged into the court room, shooting down a magistrate.
Details revealed by the CJ’s statement state that the court session was held in a makeshift structure which allowed the suspect to make his way into the court through the magistrates’s door.
During the altercation, the Principal magistrate was injured while two other police officers who tried to maintain order in the court room sustained injuries.
However, the judiciary confirmed that the three were hospitalised and in stable condition.
