All Courts to Close on June 18 to Mourn Principal Magistrate Monica Kivuti
Chief Justice Martha Koome has declared Tuesday, June 18, 2024, as a day of mourning for the entire Judiciary following the tragic death of Principal Magistrate Monica Kivuti. Magistrate Kivuti passed away on June 15, 2024, from injuries sustained after being shot by a police officer at the Makadara Law Courts on June 12.
In honor of Magistrate Kivuti, all courts across the country will remain closed on June 18. The Judiciary flag will also be flown at half-mast at all court stations from June 15 until her burial. This closure is intended to show solidarity with Kivuti’s family, friends, and colleagues, and to acknowledge the profound impact of her death on the judicial community.
Matters scheduled for June 18 will be rescheduled and prioritized in court dockets. Additionally, the Makadara Law Courts will be closed until June 24, 2024, to dismantle makeshift court structures and reorganize security arrangements. During this period, cases scheduled for the Makadara Law Courts will be handled at the Milimani Law Courts.
Chief Justice Koome also called for enhanced security measures, urging the Ministry of Interior and National Administration and the Office of the Inspector General of Police to deploy additional officers to the Judiciary Police Unit. She emphasized the need for the Judiciary Police Unit to be upgraded into a fully-fledged Police Unit with a senior commanding officer and a functional secretariat to ensure better protection for judicial officers and court facilities.
All Courts to Close on June 18 to Mourn Principal Magistrate Monica Kivuti
