Tension gripped Kiambu town on Tuesday as residents staged demonstrations outside the Kiambu Law Courts, accusing some lawyers of colluding with judicial officers to frustrate justice and allegedly influence the transfer of judges.
The demonstrators, carrying placards reading “Enough is Enough” and “Keep Off Our Judges,” claimed that legal practitioners were behind frequent adjournments, missing court files, and prolonged cases that have left litigants waiting for years without resolution.
Former nominated MCA Alice Wamuhu said residents were increasingly concerned about what they described as deliberate delays engineered by advocates.
“We want lawyers to keep off our judges because we have learnt that they are giving our judges a hard time,” said Wamuhu. “Files have gone missing and clients have been complaining that their lawyers have not been attending court sessions, necessitating adjournments and causing their cases to take too long to conclude.”
Another resident, Thomas Mwangi, called on newly elected Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Charles Kanjama to take firm action against advocates accused of misconduct.
“We know the LSK president was elected to serve the will of the people. We urge him to come to Kiambu and hear our pleas,” Mwangi said, alleging that some lawyers had become “corrupt, rotten and driven by greed.”
The protesters further claimed that two judges serving at the Kiambu High Court were being subjected to illegal and unconstitutional transfers. They argued that such transfers worsen case backlogs and disrupt ongoing proceedings.
John Mwangi, a member of the clergy, recounted a personal ordeal involving a compensation case that has dragged on since 2011 due to repeated adjournments and absentee lawyers.
“In Kiambu, there is a need for additional judges to clear the backlog. We have only two judges after transfers were done, yet this station handles a heavy caseload,” he said, adding that some lawyers had allegedly formed “untouchable cartels” that attempt to dictate which judges preside over matters.
Cecilia Njuguna, also a former nominated MCA who joined the demonstrators, called for enhanced public engagement by both the Judiciary and legal practitioners.
“There should be more public participation to enlighten wananchi on how to find justice. Some lawyers hold onto files without sharing adequate information with their clients, making them pay legal fees at every encounter,” she said.
However, the Law Society of Kenya Kiambu Chapter swiftly dismissed the allegations, terming them misguided and based on misinformation.
Chapter Chairperson Beth Fundi said advocates have no role in the transfer or deployment of judges, clarifying that such decisions fall exclusively under the mandate of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).
“The process of transferring judges is only mandated by the Judiciary through the JSC. Advocates are private practitioners and have nothing to do with those decisions,” Fundi said.
She noted that the recent transfers were part of a countrywide administrative exercise affecting several court stations, not just Kiambu. Fundi added that the Kiambu High Court, established in 2017, inherited numerous cases from Milimani and Murang’a courts, significantly contributing to the current backlog.
“Many matters, including appeals, succession causes, and serious criminal cases, were transferred to Kiambu upon its establishment. This has made it a busy station. We have petitioned the Chief Justice for an additional judge, and we are expecting more judicial officers,” she said.
On claims that cases are forced to start afresh whenever magistrates or judges are transferred, Fundi explained that the law provides procedures for either proceeding from where a matter stopped or starting de novo, depending on the circumstances and agreement of parties involved.
She emphasized that complaints against advocates can be lodged with the LSK, while grievances against judges or magistrates should be filed with the JSC.
LSK Kiambu Vice-Chair Munene Warutere reiterated the chapter’s commitment to upholding the rule of law and judicial independence, urging members of the public to seek redress through established legal mechanisms rather than public protests.
Another advocate, Ben Mwangi, described the demonstrations as unfortunate.
“I can authoritatively state that lawyers are not involved in the transfer of judges nor do they keep court files. That responsibility lies with judicial officers, judges and magistrates,” he said.
As the standoff unfolds, residents continue to demand faster resolution of cases and increased judicial staffing, while the legal fraternity maintains that institutional processes — not advocates — govern judicial administration and transfers.
