Another court station closed over Covid-19

Githongo Law Courts in Meru County. PHOTO | CHARLES WANYORO | NATION MEDIA GROUP 

What you need to know:

  • Covid-19 surveillance team identified 18 judicial staff at Githongo as some of the people who may have come into direct contact with the suspects.
  • The staff were advised to self-isolate and get tested next week.
  • The CJ said virtual hearing of cases will continue on priority basis.

Chief Justice David Maraga has ordered the closure of Githongo Law Courts in Imenti Central, Meru after four suspects tested positive for Covid-19.

The four were being held at Kariene police station and had attended a court session at Githongo.

Covid-19 surveillance team identified 18 judicial staff at Githongo as some of the people who may have come into direct contact with the suspects. The staff were advised to self-isolate and get tested next week.

The CJ said virtual hearing of cases will continue on priority basis.

Imenti Central police boss John Tarus said 10 police officers based at Kariene and five other suspects who came into contact with the four were tested and isolated.

He said the facilities had been fumigated while the four who tested positive were taken into quarantine in Meru town.

Mr Tarus said officers are giving cash bails and bonds to suspects so as to decongest police cells since prison facilities were reluctant to receive suspects who do not have Covid-19 certificates.

“It is a major challenge but we are issuing bonds so that the suspects can attend court from home. Prisons are not admitting people without certificates to indicate that they were Covid-19 negative since one case can infect many inmates there,” he said.