This archive report was first published on 20 April 2020.
On April 20, 2020, the National Council on the Administration of Justice (NCAJ) issued a directive requiring courts to reopen from Wednesday, sparking protests and resistance among Judiciary staff.
Chief Justice David Maraga received a joint letter from the Kenya Judges Welfare Association, Kenya Magistrates and Judges Association, and Kenya Judiciary Staff Association, expressing concerns over the safety of staff and litigants.
The associations demanded that the Chief Registrar engage with the Ministry of Health to ensure courtrooms and registries are audited and meet social distancing guidelines.
They also requested a written assurance that staff medical cover will not be jeopardized by exposure to the pandemic and that all documents be filed electronically or lodged when the pandemic is over.
Additionally, the associations recommended that the Judiciary provide transport for staff without private means and procure safe passage authorisation for affected workers in counties with travel restrictions.
Despite the concerns, the Law Society of Kenya has been advocating for the resumption of hearings, with LSK accusing the judicial staff associations of wanting their members to take a wage without working under the pretext of slowing down the spread of coronavirus infections.
