This archive report was first published on 6 August 2020.
On August 6, 2020, the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) in Kakamega County ordered the postponement of court proceedings due to a Covid-19 outbreak among its staff.
According to a memo issued by the DPP, undisclosed members of its staff had tested positive for the virus, prompting the order for mandatory self-quarantine and isolation for a period of 14 days.
Western Region's DPP, Patrick Gumo, confirmed that all state prosecutors had been tested, with some confirmed positive for the virus.
As a precautionary measure, contact tracing was underway, and court hearings were suspended to avoid physical contact with clients, a major way of contracting the virus, Gumo explained.
The order temporarily halted court procedures, including hearing and plea taking, which had begun just a month ago after a four-month break occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic.
Small-scale businesses around the courts also suffered as people shied away from the confines of the courts, fearing the spread of the disease.
Lawyers, including Siro Ombaye, an advocate of the High Court, welcomed the closure of the courts, citing the high risk of court officials contracting the virus due to their interactions with many people.
