Police have lobbed teargas and dispersed lawyers who were staging a protest outside the Nakuru law court.
Today, on February 15, the lawyers organized a march to protest the county officials' disregard of court orders.
Carrying placards and banners bearing the message, "Obey the rule of law," the lawyers brought major highways to a standstill, highlighting their frustrations.
"We will not allow any powers to circumvent the rule of law," one of the lawyers stated following the protest.
According to the lawyers, county officials and police officers have repeatedly failed to comply with court orders regarding the Nakuru War Memorial. This compelled the judges to transfer the case to Nairobi courts, where similar non-compliance persisted, prompting further transfer to Nyanadarua.
"This is a procession by the law society of Kenya, we want the whole world to know that we will defend the rule of law, " another lawyer lamented.
However, the walk was rudely interrupted as police officers dispersed the protesters putting an end to it.
Coincidentally, a group of rowdy youth also intercepted and dispersed a section of the protesting lawyers who had taken the march to the Nakuru-Nairobi highway.
As of November 4, 2023, Nakuru War Memorial Hospital has been embroiled in disputes as the Nakuru county government and the hospital management board take their battle to court over the ownership of the land on which the hospital is situated.
On February 9, the judge at Nakuru Environmental Land Court, Anthony Ombwayo, transferred the case to a similar jurisdiction in Nairobi where it would be heard.
He became the second judge to preside over the case in the same court, issuing an order that ultimately went unenforced.
Following his withdrawal from the case he faulted the police officers for not obeying any orders issued by the Nakuru court.
