The Judiciary of Kenya has confirmed that several judicial files have been destroyed after a fire broke out at the Mavoko Law Courts in Machakos County on Friday morning.
In a statement, the Judiciary announced that the fire broke out during the early hours of Friday, May 24,2024, at the Law Courts revealing that the inferno affected a metal container used for archiving closed cases.
The Judiciary however noted that the Fire Department managed to extinguish the inferno, adding that the Police and judicial staff have since secured the area.
“Today 24th May 2024, at around 4 a.m., a fire broke out in a metal container used for archiving closed cases at Mavoko Law Courts.
The Fire Department promptly extinguished the fire by 5 a.m. Police and judicial staff secured the area, and a report was filed at Athi River Police Station,” read part of the statement.
According to the Judiciary, the inferno led to the damage of archived files, some ICT equipment, floors, and walls, but did not affect any active case files.
Mavoko Law Courts Fire Incident
In addition, the Judiciary said that an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire.
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The third arm of the government however announced that despite the inferno, the Law Courts will remain open.
“An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire and to implement preventive measures. Mavoko Law Courts remain open, and operations continue as usual,” the statement adds.
The statement by the Judiciary came after Police reported that several files had been burnt down at the Law Courts early Friday.
According to a Police Statement, the matter was recorded at the Athi River police station within Athi River South subcounty by a senior court employee.
By the time, Police said that the full extent of damage caused by the inferno had not yet been established.
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“It was reported by a court staffer that there was a fire breakout at the said premise. Police officers from Athi River police station in the company of DCI officers rushed to the scene where it was established that the fire spread from the court’s archives room and slightly at the accounts room where several files were burnt,” said the police earlier.
Judiciary Highlights Digital Transformation After Court Inferno
The Judiciary in its statement highlighted that the ongoing digital transformation, including e-filing and the Ajira program for digitizing files, aims to mitigate such incidents in the future.
Earlier in March, the third arm of the government had announced the activation of E-filing of cases in all court stations across the country.
According to the Judiciary, Online filing signifies a departure from traditional paper-based filing systems towards a more efficient digital framework.
The E-Filing system also provides citizens and non-citizens with a platform to initiate and complete the process of filing cases digitally including e-receipting and e-payment.
Also, the initiatives to effect technological advances in the Judicial system saw the rolling out of judicial services in Huduma Centers back in January 2024.
According to the Judiciary, the move was part of its plan of seeking to leverage the success of the Huduma Centers and particularly the technology deployed to enhance access to justice by Kenyans.
The fire incident at the Mavoko Law Courts is among recent incidents of infernos to have been reported which have led to loss of property.
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