Chief Justice Martha Koome has assured that the courts will work for extended hours after cases of mysterious abductions shoot up in less than a week.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the CJ criticised the abductions which have seen north of 15 activists kidnapped by mysterious gun-wielding gangs.
"I have noted with deep concern the numerous allegations regarding the abductions of protesters amid the ongoing mass protests in our country. Such actions, executed by persons not identifying themselves and without presenting the abducted individuals before a court of law, amount to a direct assault on the rule of law, human rights, and constitutionalism, which are our guiding national values and principles of governance as enshrined in Article 10 of the Constitution," she stated.
While urging justice agencies, Koome therefore noted that the courts were ready to extend their working hours should the arrested individuals be presented before them.
"Agencies within the justice sector, working under the auspices of the National Council on the Administration of Justice (NCAJ), have in the past committed to working towards ensuring that ours becomes a human rights-based criminal justice system that adheres to the Constitution, particularly the Bill of Rights, and the law. I therefore urge all agencies in the justice sector to process any criminal actions lawfully and to investigate and address the allegations regarding abductions related to the ongoing protests with utmost urgency," she added.
"I take this opportunity to assure the nation that the courts are prepared to operate beyond standard working hours if the abducted persons are presented before court and also to consider any petitions for habeas corpus. This commitment is to ensure that our nation continues on the path of the rule of law and constitutionalism and to guarantee that all state and non-state actors operate within the strict boundaries erected by our Bill of Rights."
Her statement came hours after protesters lamented that several activists among them Osama Otero and Gabriel Oguda were picked up in the wee hours of Tuesday from their homes.
Reports indicated that they were taken by armed individuals believed to be linked to the security sector.
Earlier, Law Society of Kenya President Faith Odhiambo confirmed that several of the abducted individuals were subsequently released among them her Chief of Staff Ernest Nyerere, Nadia Nthia, and Shadrack Kiprono aka Shad.
Others, however, remain missing with their whereabouts unknown.
Before the second and third readings of the Finance Bill 2024 in Parliament, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula directed Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wa to urgently liaise with Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome to ascertain Oguda's whereabouts within the next two hours.
The directive was given after National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi noted with concern that mysterious men believed to be police officers abducted Oguda at 2:00 am.
"I will direct the Majority Leader to get in touch with the IG and find out about the officer working at the Minority Leader’s office and report back,” directed Wetangula.
Protests against the Finance Bill continued countrywide even as lawmakers embarked on the voting exercise to pass or reject the bill.
