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Monica Kivuti shooting: Judiciary staff associations set protest for June 19

Justice Stephen Radido addresses a press conference at the Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi on June 16, 2024, flanked by members of the Kenya Magistrates and Judges Association (KMJA) and Kenya Judiciary Staff Association (KJSA). (Photo: Joseph Ndunda/EV)

By Joseph Ndunda | Sunday, June 16, 2024

Following the fatal shooting of Makadara Principal Magistrate Monica Kivuti, they will hold demonstrations in demands for proper and safer working conditions.

Members of two judiciary staff associations will down their tools from June 19–21 in a demand for secure working conditions following the fatal gun attack on Makadara Principal Magistrate Monica Kivuti.

The two are the Kenya Magistrates and Judges Association (KMJA) and the Kenya Judiciary Staff Association (KJSA).

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Justice Stephen Radido, the KMJA's president, announced this on Sunday after the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) postponed interviews for judges of the Court of Appeal and said the courts would be closed until June 24, in Kivuti's honour and to allow maintenance following the incident.

Radido said, however, that the closure dates were subject to a review, meaning the timelines could be extended.

Kivuti was shot inside her makeshift court at the Makadara Law Courts during proceedings, by Chief Inspector Samson Kipchirchir Kipruto, the Officer in Charge (OCS) of Londiani Police Station.

Kipruto, who was dissatisfied with the court's judgement concerning his wife, was subsequently shot dead by the police officers on site.

Kivuti died in the intensive care unit (ICU) at the Nairobi Hospital on June 15, where she was taken for advanced care after initial treatment at the Metropolitan Hospital.

Other judiciary staffers who will remain out of office for the period include Kadhis, registrars, and deputy registrars.

The associations are protesting poor working conditions and pushing their employer to provide well-equipped and safe working spaces.

During a press briefing in Nairobi on Sunday, they listed instances where magistrates and other workers have been exposed to security threats and working conditions that they described as deplorable.

While calling for a review of security protocols in courts, Justice Radido said one of the measures to be taken is ensuring no one is allowed in the courts with any form of concealment of faces in whatever manner unless on ascertainable medical or security grounds.

"Members of KJMA and KJSA shall only conduct their proceedings after ascertainment that there is provision of armed security in court," stated the judge.

"Forthwith, there shall be strict adherence to security protocols and no object unrelated to the business of the court or firearm other than that held by a designated officer of the court, as shall be authorised by the officer in charge of security at the court, shall be allowed into the court or court station by any user."

Justice Radido further noted that strong and independent institutions are the cornerstones of society and that threats to justice take many forms.

"Attacks and the killing of judicial officers for doing that which is delegated to them by Kenyans, and the neglect of the welfare of judicial officers by the state, are just but the living forms of threats to justice."

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