A cloud of uncertainty now hangs over the delivery of justice in Kikuyu, Kiambu County, after protesters torched the local law courts during Wednesday’s commemorative demonstrations. The inferno, which razed court files and vital infrastructure, has left the region without a functioning judicial hub crippling access to legal services and delaying countless cases.
What began as nationwide protests marking the anniversary of last year’s youth-led demonstrations took a destructive turn in Kikuyu, where the court was targeted in what officials have described as a deeply troubling act of aggression against Kenya’s justice system.
Judicial officers and local court officials, speaking after the incident, pleaded for patience from residents. While there is commitment to restoring services, the extent of the damage has made any quick fix impossible. Most files had no digital backups, meaning reconstruction efforts must begin from scratch a task complicated by the sheer volume and sensitivity of the cases affected.
The impact is already being felt. Criminal trials have stalled. Accused persons remain in remand. Families seeking resolutions to civil matters have been left stranded.
Lawyer Julius Njoroge, representing both local and national legal practitioners, strongly condemned the attack. “This is a violation of the people’s right to justice,” he said. “Burning a court is not a protest it’s a direct assault on the rule of law.”
Chief Justice Martha Koome visited the charred remains of the court on Thursday, offering a somber assessment of the destruction. “This was an act of terrorism against our judicial system,” she declared during a press briefing at the site. She confirmed that all 23 judicial staff members escaped unharmed but voiced serious concern about the fate of ordinary Kenyans who rely on the court for justice.
“The bigger tragedy is for those who come here daily seeking justice. Where do they go now?” she asked, adding that the damage reaches far beyond brick and mortar it strikes at the heart of public trust in democratic institutions.
Koome acknowledged that the Constitution upholds the right to protest, but said the violence in Kikuyu points to a disturbing trend: peaceful protests being hijacked by criminal elements. “I believe most protesters acted in good faith. But this destruction reflects a dangerous deviation from lawful dissent,” she said.
Calling for unity, the Chief Justice urged government bodies, civil society, and communities to work together to address the frustrations driving public unrest without destroying the very institutions meant to safeguard citizens’ rights.
“This is our country. Our problems must be solved together,” Koome emphasized, vowing that the Judiciary would stand firm in its mission, no matter the challenges ahead.
