Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu has urged Kenyans to stop victimizing judges and magistrates among other Judicial Service Commission employees while performing their duties.
The DCJ instead asked the members of the public not to take matters into their own hands when dissatisfied with the outcome of the judicial process and instead seek other alternative measures.
Speaking on Saturday in Yatta, Machakos County during the funeral service of the slain Makadara Law Court Principal Magistrate, Monica Kivuti who was shot dead by a senior police officer while on duty, an emotional Mwilu said it was primitive for a person to kill another saying life is God-given and should be taken away only by God alone.
“Monica’s life should not have been taken away when she was doing her job. Every single judge and magistrate is in danger from senseless people who do not appreciate the rule of law. Please stop killing us” the DCJ said.
Justice Mwilu lamented that many judges and magistrates are working in fear of being attacked and killed at their workplace.
“Life is God-given, and life should be taken away by God alone. If someone is unhappy with what the courts do, they should not kill us instead appeal our decisions. There have been far too many attempts on our lives at our workplaces,” said the DCJ.
Mwilu’s sentiments were echoed by the Court of Appeal Kenya President Justice Daniel Musinga who asked the Judiciary officials to continue administering justice to all fairly in line with the oath they took.
Musinga noted that the slain magistrate stood for integrity while performing her duties and should be emulated by other judicial officers.
Magistrate Kivuti died last week on Thursday while undergoing treatment at Nairobi Hospital after she was shot shortly after delivering a ruling in a fraud case involving a policeman’s wife at Makadara Law Courts in Nairobi.
Political leaders present called on the government to enhance the security of all judicial officers who regretted the death of the Magistrate while in the line of duty.
“ The Constitution 2010 was to strengthen the Judiciary independence and specifically funding and therefore working in a tent today for the Judiciary is unacceptable” said Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka
Machakos governor Wavinya Ndeti and Senator Agnes Kavindu pushed for a secure and conducive working space for the judiciary across the country.
“Monica died for not being corrupt and we should ensure we serve with integrity and I urge Parliament to adequately fund the Judiciary to ensure they have conducive working environments” she stated.
“Give Judiciary funds so that they can stop working from tents and Judicial Officers should not be afraid to deliver their duties with freedom because they are serving their country” Senator Kavindu said.
The late Kivuti leaves behind her husband Lawyer Mutima Kang’ata, three children Josephine Wanjiru, Michelle Menyi, and baby Elyanna Wanjiru and granddaughter Melody.
