Acting Chief Justice Philemona Mwilu [photo: The Standard]
All court tribunals and registries in Nairobi, Nakuru, Kajiado, Machakos and Kiambu have been closed as of today.
Acting Chief Justice Philemona Mwilu says all physical court sessions in five counties have been shut down.
This follows the new Covid-19 containment measures directed by President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday. President Uhuru said that the counties have been listed as a zoned area where Covid-19 infections are steadily rising.
All criminal pleas and urgent hearings shall be handled virtually in all courts in the five zoned counties.
In a notice to all Judicial officers, Acting Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu said, “In Nairobi county, matters under certificate of urgency shall continue to be filed using the e-filing system accessible at https://efiling.court.go.ke/. E-filing support shall be offered through an online platform running every weekday from 10.00am to 12.00pm and 2.00pm to 4.00pm.”
Justice Mwilu said, “Like all other sectors, the Judiciary and the rest of the criminal and civil justice agencies were asked to take immediate action to eliminate non-essential physical contact or situations within our areas of the mandate that may lead to crowding or the propagation of the disease.”
Mwilu says the guidelines shall stay in place and will be reviewed as circumstances allow.
Mwilu added that the government has prioritized the vaccine to those aged 58 and above.