Acting CJ directs courts to explore processes of resuming physical sittings in 5 counties
Acting Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu has instructed all Presiding Judges, Heads of Stations/Divisions, and Chairs of Tribunals in the five counties that were originally put under lock-down due to the Covid-19 pandemic, to hold urgent consultations with their Bar-Bench and Court Users Committees on how hearings can resume safely.
In a statement, Mwilu said that the reports should be submitted to her office, copied to the respective principal and presiding judges of the court and the Chief Registrar of the Judiciary by May 12,2021.
“The sittings will be required to deliberate and come up with a contextual understanding on the extent to which physical hearings can safely resume within their jurisdictions,” Mwilu said.
In light of emerging new Covid-19 variants, Mwilu issued a warning to Kenyans to be vigilant.
“We reiterate what the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Hon. Mutahi Kagwe, EGH stated in his address to the nation the other day – that in the face of this pandemic, it cannot be business as usual; that there are new variants emerging that require us, even in the face of the apparent relaxation of restrictions, to remain extremely vigilant,” she said.
This comes after advocates complained that access to tribunals and courts has become exceedingly difficult as a result of the lockdown.
The Judiciary issued a statement ordering that all court sessions in these counties be held virtually after President Uhuru Kenyatta directed cessation of movement within the five counties.
During Labour day, he lifted the ban following a decline in Covid-19 infections.
According to the Ministry of Health, the new infections were discovered in 4,251 samples, bringing the total number of positive cases to 163,554.
Since the pandemic was first reported in the country, Kenya has conducted 1,719,289 tests.
The new infections include 308 Kenyans and 8 foreigners; 204 are men and 112 are women.
A total of 1,099 patients are currently admitted in various health facilities across the country, with 6,290 on Home Based Isolation and Care.
The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) has 133 patients, 27 of whom are on ventilatory support and 81 on supplemental oxygen. Twenty-five patients are being monitored.
Another 102 patients require supplemental oxygen, with 96 in general wards and six in High Dependency Units (HDU).
Meanwhile, 65 patients have recovered from the disease; 39 from various health facilities countrywide, while 23 are from the Home Based and Isolation Care.
Total recoveries now stand at 111,191 of whom 80,558 are from Home Based Care and Isolation while 30,633 are from various health facilities.
At the same time, 12 deaths have been reported; one having occurred in the last 24 hours and 11 on diverse dates within the last one month.
This pushes the cumulative fatalities to 2,895.
