CJ Koome Calls For Review Of Judges’ Security Following Lamu Attack

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 27 – Chief justice Martha Koome has directed the immediate airlifting of Judicial and police officers injured on Wednesday evening in a suspected Al-Shabaab attack in Lango La Simba area in Lamu county.

The judicial officers included Senior Principal Magistrate Paul Rotich, court clerk Boy Njue, an officer from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) Frank Sirma, Police constable Moses Bett and Willis Mugendi as well as their driver Abel Barisa.

An incident report seen by Shahidi News revealed that the militants sprayed their vehicles with bullets at Lango la Simba near Nyongoro, along the Lamu-Witu-Garsen road.

The militants reported to be six in number had attacked two other vehicles plying the same route.

A truck driver had managed to escape unhurt but left the Hino truck registration number KCH 062M on the road.

Another vehicle, a Toyota Hilux plate number KAT 351Y belonging to H Young, a construction company was also shot at.

Despite the deflation of tyres, the driver managed to drive a kilometer from the scene.

The judicial vehicle was the third to be attacked leaving its occupant injured.

Parts of the coastal County have since been declared troubled areas and 30-day dusk to dawn curfew effected.

The Kenya Defence Forces are among other security agencies conducting an operation to weed out the attackers.

“I am informed that the injured judicial officers are in stable condition and are being given the utmost medical care. I have instructed the judiciary police unit to ensure that the officers are immediately evacuated to Nairobi for specialized treatment,” said CJ Koome in a statement.

Koome thanked the inspector general of police for deploying a contingent of police officers to respond to the incident.

“I would like to assure my colleague judges,judicial officers and staff that the judiciary values the safety of all our people and partners who work in very difficult conditions to secure the right of access to justice for Kenyans, ” she said.

The injured officers are from the Garsen Law Courts in Tana River county.

The Head of the Judiciary Police Unit has since been directed to review the security status of all judges, judicial officers and staff across the country especially in areas that face severe security threats, and take necessary measures to enhance their safety.