Kikuyu police chapel converted into makeshift courtroom

Kikuyu police chapel which has been converted temporarily into a courtroom.

In an unprecedented move to maintain access to justice, the Kikuyu police chapel has been temporarily transformed into a courtroom.

It follows the destruction of the Kikuyu Law Courts during nationwide protests on June 25, 2025.

The Judiciary announced the temporary relocation to ensure the continuity of judicial services and address the rapidly growing backlog of cases that has resulted from the indefinite suspension of court operations in Kikuyu.

The Kikuyu Law Courts were among several judicial facilities targeted during violent protests that erupted across Kenya to mark the first anniversary of the 2024 anti-finance demonstrations.

The demonstrations, which began as peaceful gatherings, turned chaotic in Kikuyu town when protesters torched the court buildings and several sub-county offices.

Vandals also broke into offices that survived the flames, smashing windows and destroying vital documents and furniture.

Eyewitnesses reported seeing police officers scrambling to extinguish the fire using buckets of soil and water in a desperate bid to save the facilities.

Chief Justice Martha Koome, who visited the destroyed court premises, condemned the attack, describing it as a direct assault on the constitution and the rule of law.

“I believe the majority of Kenyans who came out to demonstrate did so in good faith, but were met with other elements who took advantage,” Koome said.

“These actions severely compromise our ability to deliver justice and disrupt essential services, particularly for the vulnerable and marginalised.”

Residents had earlier appealed to the government to expedite the resumption of court services, citing increased hardships and delays in accessing justice.

The Judiciary’s swift action in converting the police chapel into a courtroom is seen as a temporary but necessary measure while longer-term solutions are being considered.

In addition to the Kikuyu Law Courts, the newly established Dagoretti Law Courts and the historic Ol Kalou Law Courts building—used primarily for exhibit storage—were also vandalised during the protests.