Courts forced to adjourn over ongoing demos
The ongoing demonstrations have paralysed court business at the Milimani Law Courts, forcing magistrates to adjourn matters slated for hearing to tomorrow.
Whereas most cases were mentioned virtually, two magistrates’ courts which had convened for mention of matters listed before them, hurriedly adjourned the proceedings and directed parties to appear on Wednesday.
“Due to the ongoing demonstrations all matters listed for hearing will be put off to July 3 2024,” Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Ben Mark Ekhubi told a handful of suspects.
The magistrate said the court is alive to the events and does not wish anything bad to befall suspects.
Mr Ekhubi asked the handful of suspects who managed to reach the law courts to return tomorrow to their relevant courts seized of their matters for further directions.
“Due to the ongoing events which this court is alive to l will allocate fresh dates to the matters fixed for today,” said Ekhubi
Prosecuting counsel Virginia Kariuki did not oppose pleas by suspects to have their matters allocated fresh trial dates to enable them to find their way back to their residences.
Ms Kariuki said the ongoing demonstrations were affecting cases as even witnesses in several cases who had been summoned to appear in court had called the prosecution to ask to be excused due to transport problems.
“Your Honor I seek this courts indulgence owing to the Gen Z demos to adjourn my case to another date I need to find ways to get back to my house. Transport to arrive here was a nightmare. l had to trek to attend court,” a suspect who is out on bond in a theft case prayed.
The suspect urged the court not to shut its eyes to the ongoing events around the city.
Mr Ekhubi allowed pleas by suspects to take out cases fixed for trials and mentions from other courts.
In another court, Senior Principal Magistrate Dolphine Alego also adjourned cases to allow suspects to sneak past security personnel on guard both at the courts and in the city to their residences.
Majority of courts at the Milimani Law Courts closed by 12.30pm.