Chief Justice Martha Koome has announced that judges will extend their working hours to address the recent wave of protester arrests, amidst numerous allegations of abductions by unidentified individuals.
In a press statement today 25th June 2024, CJ Koome expressed deep concern over these reports, stressing that such actions violate the rule of law, human rights, and constitutional principles outlined in Article 10 of the Constitution.
“Our Transformative Constitution mandates that law enforcement operates strictly within the confines of the Bill of Rights and the law,” stated Koome.
She emphasized Article 49, which guarantees the rights of arrested persons, including the right to be informed of the reason for their arrest, to communicate with an advocate, and to be presented before a court within 24 hours.
CJ Koome on constitutional duties
Article 51 further ensures the rights of those detained, including the right to petition for habeas corpus.
Koome called on all state agencies within the justice sector to uphold their constitutional duties and ensure compliance with the law.
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“Any deviation from the stipulations of the Bill of Rights and the law not only invites anarchy and lawlessness but also constitutes a severe assault on the value-order of governance stipulated in Article 10 of the Constitution,” she warned.
Justice sector agencies, operating under the National Council on the Administration of Justice (NCAJ), have previously committed to creating a human rights-based criminal justice system.
CJ Koome urged these agencies to process criminal actions lawfully and to urgently investigate and address the abduction allegations.
Abduction in Kenya
This statement comes after several abductions have been seen in the country with the ongoing protests.
Popular political commentator and newspaper columnist Gabriel Oguda was allegedly abducted on Tuesday, June 25, ahead of the anti-Finance Bill protests.
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Other protestors were captured over the weekend such as Shadrak Kiprono, alias Shad Khalif, who was abducted on June 23 Sunday night in Nairobi’s South B area.
Gen Zs have planned more protests on Tuesday, June 25, and Thursday, June 27, when MPs will vote on the proposed bill.
So far, two people have been confirmed dead from the ongoing anti-finance bill protests held on June 20.
This included Rex Kanyike Masai, 29, who was shot and killed on June 20 while another protester succumbed to injuries on Friday, June 21.
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