NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 21 – Additional police officers have been assigned to Justice Anthony Mrima to reinforce his security after the judge alluded to threats from emissaries sent by unnamed government officials unhappy with his judgments.
The upscaling of Justice Mrima’s security follows instructions by Chief Justice Martha Koome.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Police Commissioner Lazarus Opicho, who heads the Judiciary Police Unit, said he had contacted Justice Mrima and asked him to file a formal complaint for action.
“I have also requested Hon Justice Mrima to make a formal complaint to the police by giving details to facilitate enforcement agencies to commence investigations against this serious allegation,” he stated.
Opicho did not disclose details of Mrima’s reinforced security detail.
He also said the unit had mapped out security needs of judges and magistrates with a view of responding appropriately to emerging threats.
Justice Mrima alluded to threats over his life on November 18 after he sentenced Director of Criminal Investigations to four months in jail for contempt of court.
The judgment was in relation to a case where he was sued for declining to return guns confiscated by his agents from businessman Jimi Wanjigi’s home.
“Recently I handled a matter and issued some orders. The orders were directed towards some senior state officers. I was surprised to be approached by an emissary sent by one of the said state officers,” Justice Mrima stated.
The judge also rendered a decision in September prohibiting Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) Director General, Lieutenant General Mohammed Badi, from attending any cabinet meetings or discharging functions derived from his attendance of the country’s top policy making organ.
In his ruling, Justice Mrima further quashed President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Executive Order No. 3 of 2020 listing Badi among those allowed to take part in Cabinet deliberations.
“There is no doubt the appointment of Badi into the Cabinet was not approved by the National Assembly. As such it is unclear as to by whom and how Badi will be over sighted,” the court ruled.
The court noted that Badi’s term of office in the Cabinet also remains an illusion.
Judge Mrima further ruled that he found no justification in the decision to include Badi in Cabinet meetings.
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