NAIROBI, Kenya — Chief Justice Martha Koome has revealed that the June 25 attack that left the Kikuyu Law Court and nearby government offices in ruins was orchestrated by individuals brought in from outside the area, dismissing claims that the violence was the work of local residents or peaceful protestors.
In a public statement released on Wednesday, July 23, CJ Koome said preliminary security briefings pointed to a calculated and coordinated assault aimed at destroying public property, specifically the court and adjacent buildings.
The destruction, she stressed, was not spontaneous but “organised and deliberate.”
“My remarks when I visited the site were made in direct response to the attack on the Kikuyu Law Court and reflected the security briefing received at the time,” she clarified, distancing her comments from broader protests or incidents elsewhere.
The Chief Justice’s statement follows public criticism and media commentary, including a response from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), which appeared to interpret her remarks as applying to terrorism-related investigations.
Koome emphasised the independence of the ODPP and the National Police Service, reminding the public that these institutions operate free from external influence, including from her office.
“They are not influenced by public statements made by any individual, including the Chief Justice,” she noted.
She also referenced a July 15 meeting of the National Council on the Administration of Justice (NCAJ), where justice sector institutions reaffirmed their commitment to uphold the rule of law, protect human dignity, and resist political or public pressure.
The Council, she added, underscored the need for protecting civic space and ensuring human rights defenders are not criminalised or intimidated for their work.
“I wish to reassure all Kenyans that the Judiciary is fully committed to the Constitution and the rule of law. Everyone brought before the courts, regardless of the charge, will be treated fairly,” Koome said, reiterating the Judiciary’s impartiality in the face of ongoing national tensions.
The Judiciary had previously condemned the arson attack shortly after it occurred, with CJ Koome visiting the site on June 26 and describing the incident as a direct assault on justice institutions.
