The Judicial Service Commission’s press statement of 17 July 2025, titled “ Statement by the JSC on Unwarranted Attacks Against Judicial Officers ,” urges the public to stop criticizing judges over bail and bond decisions. It portrays such criticism as a threat to judicial independence and the rule of law. But this defensive stance rings hollow in the face of real tragedies under the judiciary’s watch. Take the heartbreaking case that sparked public outcry: 24-year-old Julia Wangui, a first-time protester in Nanyuki, died in custody after failing to raise a Ksh 50,000 bond imposed for a minor protest-related charge. She was arrested during the Saba Saba demonstrations, charged with a non-violent offence (malicious damage) , and remanded when she couldn’t afford the bond. Days later, she was dead in unclear circumstances. This is not an isolated incident of harsh pre-trial detention, it is a glaring symptom of a Judiciary that is failing t...
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