PUBLIC STATEMENT – Targeting Court Infrastructure undermines the Rule of Law and Access to Justice
On behalf of the Judiciary and in my personal capacity, I extend heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of all those who tragically lost their lives during the protests held on 25th June 2025. I also wish a quick recovery to all those who sustained injuries and extend sympathies to those whose businesses and livelihoods were vandalized, looted and destroyed.
The Constitution, under Article 37, guarantees every citizen the right to assemble, demonstrate, and picket. However, this right must be exercised peaceably and without arms. It does not extend to acts that cause harm, destroy property, or endanger the lives of others. Lawful protest must always be distinguished from acts of violence and criminality.
According to the situational report by the Judiciary Police Unit, the protests of 25th June 2025 witnessed a deeply troubling trend involving the deliberate targeting of court infrastructure by individuals who infiltrated the demonstrations with the intent to cause destruction. The most serious incident was the complete vandalism of the Kikuyu Law Courts. The newly established Dagoretti Law Courts was also vandalized. Additionally, the old Ol Kalou Law Courts building, currently used for the storage of exhibits, was broken into and damaged.
These attacks are an affront to the Constitution and the rule of law. They severely compromise the Judiciary’s ability to deliver justice, disrupt the administration of justice for ordinary Kenyans, and undermine our ongoing efforts to expand access to justice, particularly for the marginalised and vulnerable. Courts are sacred spaces in a constitutional democracy as they are the neutral grounds where disputes are resolved and rights upheld. To target them is to erode the very foundation of our democratic and legal order.
Building courts in Kenya is a painstaking process. It takes years of planning, resource mobilisation, and negotiation within a severely constrained budget. The destruction of these facilities rolls back hard-won gains in access to justice, especially for marginalised communities who rely on these courts for protection and redress.
The Judiciary will continue to work closely with the relevant security agencies to safeguard court infrastructure and protect the safety and well-being of all our judicial personnel. We remain firmly committed to the delivery of justice and the upholding of our Constitution, even in these difficult times.
To the communities and court users in the affected areas, I assure you that we are working tirelessly to restore services and ensure continued access to justice without interruption.
To our Judiciary personnel who were affected by these attacks and who continue to work under very difficult circumstances to ensure that the wheels of justice continue unabated, I commend your commitment to the rule of law and your unwavering service to the people of Kenya, even in the face of adversity. The Judiciary stands as a pillar of justice and constitutional order, and your role in upholding these principles is invaluable.
Hon. Justice Martha Koome, EGH
Chief Justice & President of the Supreme Court of Kenya
