Kiambu residents protest judge transfers, demand stability in law courts

Tension has gripped Kiambu following the transfer of two High Court judges who received notices earlier this month, with residents taking to the streets demanding a reversal of the decision.

Protesters marched to the Kiambu law courts on Tuesday, drawing the attention of passers-by, court users and traders operating near the premises.

The demonstrators, joined by a few civil servants, voiced their displeasure over what they described as a growing threat to justice delivery in the county.

"You will not intimidate our judges anymore, and there will be no more transfers to these people again," Kiambu MCA Alice Wamuhu declared, speaking at the protest.

The protests come against the backdrop of an already strained judicial environment in the county.

Cyrus Maingi, Bodaboda Association Kiambu representative, painted a grim picture of the situation on the ground.

"Some residents came to ensure that their cases are heard and others go home without their cases being heard," he said, noting that only two judges currently remain at the court.

Residents argued that the transfers risked disrupting ongoing cases, delaying the delivery of judgments, and creating confusion over the management of court files.

A key concern was that cases already partly heard would require incoming judicial officers to spend considerable time familiarising themselves with the records, potentially worsening existing case backlogs.

Resident Cecilia echoed that many cases at the court remain unattended due to the shortage of judges, but clarified that the delays are not caused by the courts themselves.

"The delay is not caused by the courts' failure to request judicial officers," she said, adding that when a judge is transferred or replaced, affected matters must begin afresh, compounding the problem further.

Resident Peter Kamau, who attended the protest, shared his own frustrating experience. "My case was never resolved because the court says there is no judge or his file is not available," he said. Kamau was involved in a criminal matter as a prosecutor.

The Judiciary has maintained that the transfers are part of routine administrative processes aimed at enhancing efficiency and accountability across the court system. However, residents countered that such decisions should be accompanied by clear communication and adequate transition measures to safeguard access to justice.

Community leaders have since called for structured consultations before any future transfers are implemented, and residents say they will continue engaging relevant authorities to seek dialogue and ensure continuity in judicial services.

Authorities are yet to issue a detailed public statement addressing the concerns raised by the demonstrators.