CJ Koome Condemns Kikuyu Law Court Arson, Labels Attack an Act of Terrorism

Chief Justice Martha Koome addresses media from Kikuyu Law Courts which was razed during demonstrations.

Chief Justice Martha Koome has strongly condemned the torching of the Kikuyu Law Courts in Kiambu County, describing the incident as an act of terrorism that poses a grave threat to the rule of law and access to justice in Kenya.

The arson attack occurred on Wednesday, June 25, during nationwide anti government protests. Masked individuals stormed the premises, setting fire to court infrastructure and destroying vital case files. No digital backups exist for the destroyed records, and the Judiciary has since suspended all operations at the Kikuyu court indefinitely.

Visiting the scene on Thursday, Chief Justice Martha Koome warned that the consequences of the attack were far reaching.

“What we witnessed here is not protest it is terrorism. It is an assault on the justice system and the people who depend on it,” said CJ Martha Koome.

She added that while all 23 court staff escaped unharmed, the loss of documents and physical infrastructure will significantly delay ongoing legal proceedings, especially for suspects who were awaiting trial or remand.

The CJ emphasized that while peaceful protests are protected under the Constitution, they must not be hijacked by criminal elements seeking to incite chaos and undermine national institutions.

“This kind of violence doesn’t just affect the Judiciary it affects the ordinary Kenyan who comes to court seeking justice,” she stated.

CJ Martha Koome also revealed that the Judiciary is actively exploring interim measures to restore services, though reconstructing lost files will be a time consuming process.

Chief Justice Martha Koome conducts an inspection tour of Kikuyu Law Courts, which were burnt down during demonstrations.

The Kikuyu incident is part of a worrying pattern, as the Judiciary also reported damage to the newly launched Dagoretti Law Courts and the old Ol Kalou Law Courts during the same wave of unrest.

Calling for calm and dialogue, the Chief Justice urged both government and civil society actors to work together to protect the country’s judicial institutions and restore public confidence.

“Justice is not a luxury it is a constitutional right. We cannot afford to let criminals destroy the path to justice,” she concluded.

The Judiciary has vowed to work tirelessly to rebuild what has been lost and hold accountable those responsible for the destruction.