The messy battle-front that was Maraga’s hotel in Mombasa

Hundreds of aggrieved youth stormed a hotel in Mombasa where Chief Justice David Maraga was presiding over a meeting with Kenya’s top judges.

The unruly youth were seeking audience with the Judiciary president, saying the custodians of justice in Kenya have – of late – succumbed to the allure of bribes at the expense of jailing wealthy criminals.

According to them, judges in Kenya are “entertaining and protecting criminals as they [judges] strive to financially enrich themselves”.

The youth said drug lords in Mombasa enjoy protection by the courts in Kenya’s coast.

Led by one Bakari Hussein, the young people alleged that judges in Mombasa have – in the far and recent past – received “hefty financial bribes, top-of-the-range vehicles and deluxe houses” in order to shield drug barons from prison sentences.

The youth say at the end of it all, it is the young men and women in Mombasa who are ruined by the illegal drugs.

Chanting: “We are tired of these judges, the drug lords are well-known to you, why haven’t you taken action against them”? the youth stormed a hotel facility where Mr Maraga was addressing judges, and demanded to see him so that they could voice their dissatisfactions to him.

The CJ at the time, was in a meeting with Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu, Court of Appeal president, William Ouko, and Chief Registrar of Judiciary, Anne Amadi.

Mr Maraga stepped out of the meeting, and walked towards the youth, who were restricted to outside the hotel premises.

However, before he could reach where the young people were, armed police officers had already swung into action and started dispersing the aggrieved crowd. It was chaos.

Mr Maraga’s bodyguards immediately took control of his security and whisked him to a “safer” venue within the hotel.

The melee lasted close to one hour.

The Chief Justice later came out of his safe room, saying he wished to address the youth.

When he went to where the young people had earlier camped, the youth were nowhere to be seen; police had already sent them running.

K24 Digital caught up with pockets of the protestors, who voiced their gripe, further.

“The Deputy CJ is now in court striving to clear her name of graft allegations. Do you think the judges handling her case will be fair?” posed Bahati Amani.

CJ Maraga told K24 Digital that he was ready to listen to the grievances of the young men and women, but when he “went to look for them, they weren’t around”.

“My team and I were ready to meet them despite not knowing who they are. I wished to know who had sent them and what they wanted. It is their right to demonstrate, though I wish they left behind a memorandum containing their grievances,” said Mr Maraga.

The CJ acknowledged he is aware that the corridors of justice have been marred by corruption, and that he is working around the clock to eliminate cartels.

“I know there are cartels among us [judges]. That network, however, extends beyond the Judiciary. I urge Kenyans to bring to my office sufficient evidence showing a judicial officer is involved in graft, and from that, you will surely know that I am working to eliminate the cartels within the Judiciary,” said the CJ.