Chief Justice Martha Kome has announced that the Judiciary flag will fly at half-mast across all court stations from Saturday until Magistrate Monica Kivuti, who lost her life after a shooting incident at the Makadara Law Courts is laid to rest.
Kivuti succumbed to her injuries while receiving treatment at the Nairobi Hospital, where she had been transferred for specialized care after the attack and her body has been moved to Lee Funeral Home.
In a statement, CJ Koome declared Tuesday, June 18, 2024, a day to mourn Kivuti, stating that no court will sit on this day as the entire Judiciary will come together in solidarity with Kivuti’s family, friends and colleagues.
Additionally, Koome noted that presiding Judges and Heads of Stations will lead remembrance meetings in common rooms in all court stations from 10 am on Tuesday, June 18, 2024.
“Presiding Judges and Heads of Stations will lead remembrance meetings in common rooms in all court stations across the country on Tuesday 18th June 2024 at 10 am to allow Judges, Judicial Officers and Staff to commemorate the life of Hon Kivuti and to commiserate with the family and one another. Courts in Nairobi will convene at Makadara and Milimani Law Courts,” the CJ said.
The CJ also directed that the Makadara Law Courts remain closed until Monday, June 24, 2024, to allow the dismantling of the makeshift court structures and reorganization for security reasons.
To curb post-traumatic stress that may affect all judicial officers and staff present during the incident, the CJ announced that the mentioned groups of people will receive psycho-social support to help them cope with the incident.
“We call upon professional medical and psychological counselling entities to provide complimentary psycho-social support to Judiciary members and affected court users/justice actors across the country,” the CJ said.
“All affected matters listed before Makadara Law Courts next week will be mentioned before Milimani Law Courts.”
Further, Koome assured all Judiciary administrative units that security will be beefed up using available resources to avert similar instances that may occur in the future.
“In the immediate phase, the Judiciary calls on the Ministry of Interior and National Administration and the Office of Inspector General of Police to deploy additional officers to reinforce the complement of officers in the Judiciary Police Unit and to reorganise the Judiciary Police Unit into a fully fledged Police nit under the leadership of a senior commanding officer with a fully functional secretariat,” Koome added.
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