Makadara Court temporarily closed over Covid-19 outbreak

Activities at the Makadara Law Courts in Nairobi have been crippled after the Judiciary ordered the closure of the premise following the Covid-19 outbreak.

According to a statement seen by the Standard Digital, the Judiciary revealed that two of its employees had tested positive for Covid-19.

All the staff were directed to proceed on self-quarantine as the court premises is fumigated to curb further spread of the disease that has so far killed 250 and infected over 14,000 people in the country.

“We direct that the court be closed for fourteen (14 days) and all Magistrates and staff to proceed on self-quarantine forthwith,” Chief Registrar of the Judiciary Anne Amadi said.

The employees were directed to seek medical attention if they exhibit coronavirus like symptoms.

Further, the David Maraga-led institution revealed that Mombasa Court that was similarly closed after identification of coronavirus cases had reopened and that all the affected staff had tested negative for the virus.

“There were no severe cases reported in Mombasa, as the affected staff members were only asymptomatic and have since tested Covid-19 negative,” a statement read in part.

It added; “The Judiciary urges its staff and court users, and indeed all members of the public, to continue adhering to the Ministry of Health protocols on the Covid-19 pandemic”.

Chief Justice Maraga ordered for the closure of Mombasa Law Court following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease at the station where 11 members including judicial officers and staff contracted Covid-19.

All the employees who were identified as contact persons were sent on self-quarantine for a period of 14 days to halt the spread of the virus.

Court operations in the country resumed in June. Justice Maraga said all indications were that the disease is likely to be with us for a long time and that it is time to find ways the Judiciary can operate without compromising guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health.

“It is a disease we must learn to live with and as such, we must work together to safely return our court activities to as near normal levels of operations as possible. It is expected that the new schedule of work and resumption of normal activities commence by June 15,” Maraga said.

 A raft of measures were put in place to ensure that the courts were fully operational to speed up the dispensation of justice.