On Thursday, angry protesters stormed a meeting hosted by Chief Justice David Maraga, at the Sarova Whitesands Hotel in Mombasa.
Maraga, who is at the Coast with other judicial officers, was hosting the Annual Judges Colloquium (conference).
The chief complaint amongst many of the protesters was that some corrupt judges were being shielded from prosecution, despite their tainted images.
They were also accusing the Judiciary of frustrating the war on corruption and drug abuse, by protecting notorious drug barons in the coastal region from prosecution.
In statements laden with emotions, some of the protesters called for the immediate firing of the wayward judges, whom they accused of being a party to the death of their children.
Some took issue with the chief justice for sleeping on the job, wanting him to immediately bow out of his position.
"We want the CJ to resign. He has failed Kenyans," said one of the women.
Maraga, who seemed unaware of what was happening, was soon forced outside to address the concerns of the irate residents who were threatening to make their way to the venue and disrupt the function.
He went out to meet the placard-bearing residents and boda boda riders who were shouting and hooting incessantly.
"Do you have any memorandum you have written? I cannot address your issues without a memorandum," the CJ told the protestors, amidst heavy police presence.
He reiterated the argument that court cases are handled on the basis of evidence, and asked any of the protesters to table whatever they had in order for the legal process to begin.
The protesters pointed out, among other issues, the prosecution of the Akasha brothers in the US, which happened in less than a year, something that Kenya had failed to do in more than a decade.
The chief justice promised to look into their concerns.
The judges' retreat comes in the backdrop of a renewed war on the drug menace at the Coast, that has necessitated the transfer of senior police bosses and NIS officials.
