In an expected ruling issued in Bungoma High Court, a judge condemned court officials who had caused the disappearance of case files.
High court judge Boaz Olao resorted to cursing the staff using Biblical analogies over the action that led to a land dispute not to be resolved in good time.
In his ruling over the estate of a deceased man, Justice Olao noted that two case files from 1999 went missing and attributed the vice to court staff.
Despite his frustration with the staff, Justice Olao found humorous ways to castigate the dishonesty conduct that has become a norm in Kenyan courts.
"For those members of staff at this court who caused the disappearance of Bungoma Chief Magistrate's case files, when you finally arrive in heaven, you will find the gate closed.
"When you ask the Angel 'Sir open the door for us,' he will reply 'Sorry, the keys to the gate are lost like the two files that you hid at Bungoma Court'," he warned.
The statement he referenced a Bible verse Luke 13:24-25 that states, "make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you will try to enter and will not be able to.
"Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, “Sir, open the door for us.” But he will answer “I don’t know you and where you come from."
He emphasized that the officials who saw to the disappearance of the files heed his remarks adding that the abhorrent practice had been ailing the judicial sector for a while.
Justice Olao further stated that the applicant had gone through a long, tortuous and frustrating path in his quest for justice in the corridors of this court.
The issue regarding the disappearance of the two files was picked up by the then Kenya Anti-corruption Commission (KACC) without any results.
"Instead, by their letter dated 13th May 2011, the KACC referred the matter back to the Deputy Registrar at the High Court of Bungoma for appropriate action much to the relief, no doubt, of those involved in the disappearance of the two files," Justice Olao observed.
