JSC Koome Outraged as Police Fire Gunshots at Ruiru Courts During Re-Arrest of DCP Youth Leader
A storm has erupted following an incident at Ruiru Law Courts where police fired gunshots in the air while re-arresting Peter Kinyanjui, also known as Kawanjiru, the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) youth leader. The shocking event occurred on the evening of Friday, July 4, and has sparked intense condemnation from the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).
“While the Commission recognises and respects the constitutional mandate of the police to enforce the law and apprehend suspects, the use of firearms in a court environment is excessive, unjustified, and an affront to the authority and dignity of the Judiciary,”
the JSC said in part.
Eyewitnesses report that police officers fired several rounds in the air to scatter the crowd as they forcefully seized Kinyanjui moments after his lawful release on bond. Chaos broke out as panic spread through the court precincts, a place considered sacred and secure for legal processes.
“Courts are sacred spaces of constitutional adjudication. They are to be respected, protected, and preserved as secure and impartial forums for the administration of justice,”
the statement from the JSC continued.
The Judiciary has since reminded law enforcement agencies that court premises must remain zones of peace and order. The use of force, especially gunfire, in such spaces is not only reckless but undermines public confidence in the justice system.
JSC Secretary Winfridah Mokaya, CBS, who signed the statement, did not mince her words.
“We therefore urge all actors within the justice sector to refrain from acts which erode confidence in the institutions charged with the administration of justice,”
she stated.
This event comes against the backdrop of recent political tensions. Kinyanjui, an outspoken critic and Gachagua ally, had earlier been arrested over the chaos that erupted in Nakuru during the June 25 protests.
The Commission’s strong condemnation has reignited calls for reform in how law enforcement interacts with the judiciary. Many Kenyans are demanding that police officers face consequences for what has been described as a show of lawlessness within a legal sanctuary.
The Judiciary has emphasized its commitment to preserving court dignity, and the public now waits to see if action will follow the powerful words.
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JSC Koome Outraged as Police Fire Gunshots at Ruiru Courts During Re-Arrest of DCP Youth Leader
