The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has been formally urged to address critical accessibility and infrastructure challenges at Milimani Law Courts, following concerns raised by Sheria Mtaani na Shadrack Wambui, Danstan Omari & Associates Advocates along with Advocate Cliff Ombeta over barriers affecting persons with disabilities.
In a demand letter dated December 18, 2025, Danstan Omari & Associates Advocates called on the Commission to take immediate remedial action, warning that the current state of the courts undermines access to justice and violates constitutional guarantees to persons living with disabilities, wheelchair bound individuals, the elderly among other vulnerable groups.
The advocates highlighted that several sections of the Milimani Law Courts, including the Magistrates’ Criminal Division and courts located on upper floors, lack functional ramps and lifts, effectively locking out persons who use wheelchairs or other mobility aids.
They further raised concerns over the absence of handrails and tactile guiding systems for persons with visual impairments, noting that the situation poses significant safety risks and has already led to incidents of falls and injuries within the court premises.
According to the lawyers, these deficiencies not only discriminate against persons with disabilities but also affect judicial officers, advocates, litigants, arrested persons, witnesses and members of the public, thereby undermining the constitutional right to access justice.
In a move to demonstrate the extent of the problem, advocates Danstan Omari, Cliff Ombeta and their team conducted a comprehensive walkthrough of the Milimani Law Courts across multiple divisions in the presence of members of the media, documenting what they described as widespread inaccessibility for persons with disabilities.
During the exercise, the lawyers pointed out that several courtrooms, offices and essential facilities remain inaccessible, particularly for wheelchair users, raising serious concerns about exclusion from the justice system.
“All those courts have no washrooms for the disabled. We have just been told that the people who come to this place when they want their short and long call have to go to the NSSF building. Is that fair?” Omari emphasised that such conditions undermine dignity, equality and the constitutional right of every person to access justice without discrimination.
The advocates urged the JSC to prioritise infrastructure upgrades across all divisions of the Milimani Law Courts, including the Criminal, Commercial, Anti Corruption and the Family divisions, to ensure compliance with accessibility standards and principles of inclusivity and dignity.
They also called on the Commission to utilise the judicial recess period to implement the necessary improvements without disrupting court operations.
The advocates stressed that the matter requires urgent attention, urging the Commission to act swiftly to safeguard the rights, safety and dignity of all court users.
