Aasai

A thick cloud of uncertainty now hangs over the delivery of justice in Kikuyu, Kiambu County, following the deliberate torching of the Kikuyu Law Courts during Wednesday’s protests. The court, which served thousands of local residents, was set ablaze in a night of unrest marking the anniversary of last year’s anti-Finance Bill demonstrations. The inferno destroyed vital infrastructure, including case files, court records, computers, and furniture — paralyzing judicial operations indefinitely.

Residents and legal practitioners now face a justice vacuum, with hundreds of active cases thrown into limbo. Among those affected are individuals in remand who were awaiting trial, families in the middle of civil proceedings, and victims seeking redress for various injustices. The damage to the facility has not only disrupted legal processes but also exposed the fragility of Kenya’s judicial infrastructure in the face of political instability.

Speaking after touring the charred remains of the court on Thursday, Chief Justice Martha Koome condemned the attack in the strongest terms, likening it to an act of terrorism against the nation’s justice system.

“This is not just an attack on a building — this is an attack on the rule of law, on the right of citizens to access justice,” said Koome. “It is terrorism against the system that safeguards our freedoms.”

She further confirmed that all 23 judicial officers assigned to the court were safe, though visibly shaken by the ordeal. However, she raised concerns over the fate of justice seekers who now have nowhere to turn.

“Our worry is what will happen to the hundreds of citizens who come here daily to resolve legal disputes, follow up on cases, or seek justice,” the Chief Justice stated.

Koome acknowledged that the Kenyan Constitution guarantees the right to peaceful assembly and expression, but she lamented that criminal elements had taken advantage of what were meant to be peaceful demonstrations.

“I believe the majority of Kenyans who demonstrated did so in good faith, out of love for their country and a desire for reform. However, it is evident that others came with a different agenda — one of chaos and destruction,” she said.

The Chief Justice appealed for national introspection, urging both state and non-state actors to work together in finding durable solutions to the root causes of unrest. She warned that allowing acts of arson and violence to go unchecked would embolden further lawlessness and erode public trust in state institutions.

Meanwhile, legal professionals in Kikuyu have called for calm and patience as authorities assess alternative ways to resume judicial services. Lawyer Julius Njoroge, speaking on behalf of the legal fraternity, described the arson as a gross violation of human rights and judicial independence.

“The loss of physical files, many of which had no digital backups, will severely hamper ongoing proceedings. We now face a monumental task of reconstructing records and restoring confidence,” Njoroge said.

As investigations into the attack continue, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the need to safeguard judicial infrastructure, especially in a democratic society where the rule of law must be upheld even in turbulent times.