The Judiciary has clarified a temporary High Court ruling that drew criticism from President William Ruto and was widely misreported by several media outlets.
In a statement released on Thursday, July 10, 2025, the Judiciary corrected claims that the court had barred police from barricading roads in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) during protests.
This clarification came a day after President Ruto, speaking at State House, criticized the ruling, saying it tied the hands of police officers tasked with protecting lives and property.
“I have seen that today, someone in court has said that the Inspector General of Police should not block roads, should not use tear gas, should not use water cannons to protect the lives of other Kenyans,” the President said on Wednesday evening.
However, the Judiciary emphasized that the temporary orders issued in the Katiba Institute vs State Law Office case do not prohibit the police from barricading roads.
Instead, the court only restrained the Inspector General and the police from mounting roadblocks without giving the public prior and timely notice, particularly where such actions prevent access to public roads or the CBD.
The court issued the orders after the State Law Office failed to file a response or appear in court, despite being duly served. The orders are temporary and remain in place pending the full hearing and determination of the case.
Katiba Institute had filed the petition on June 25, 2025, arguing that the blocking of roads without notice caused serious public inconvenience.
The Judiciary urged accurate media reporting to avoid misleading the public on ongoing court proceedings.
By Newshub