A Nairobi court has issued a stern warning to activist Julius Kamau following his dramatic disruption of proceedings at the Milimani Law Courts. Kamau, who is well-known for his outspoken activism, had been detained briefly after shouting in the court corridors and interrupting an ongoing trial session.
Appearing before Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina, Kamau was asked to explain why he should not be punished for causing the disturbance. The magistrate noted that his shouting had interfered with the administration of justice, stressing that courts must be allowed to conduct their business without unnecessary interruptions.
In his defense, Kamau admitted to being wrong and acknowledged that his actions were punishable. However, he explained that he had been triggered by what he described as continued ignorance by authorities toward important issues facing ordinary citizens. He emphasized that his protests were driven by frustrations over unaddressed concerns affecting society.
Kamau further told the court that he has faced numerous arrests due to his activism, often teaching citizens in the streets about corruption and governance issues. He claimed that there was an order barring police from arresting him, yet he continued to be targeted for his activism.
The Chief Magistrate, while accepting his apology, released him with a stern warning, cautioning that he would face jail if he repeated such conduct within court premises. The warning came after Kamau had earlier caused chaos before another magistrate when he disrupted his own case mention by shouting inside the courtroom, forcing security officers to intervene.
During his outburst, Kamau passionately declared that silence in the face of corruption and bad governance was equivalent to slavery. He urged citizens to rise against systemic failures, stressing that change was possible if people refused to remain quiet.
Court records indicate that Kamau is facing charges of unlawful assembly under the Penal Code. The charges stem from a 2023 incident where he and others allegedly held a protest outside a building in Upper Hill, Nairobi. They were accused of blocking road users and causing fear while chanting slogans such as “Poverty is man-made; colonialism never really ended.”
His case has been referred back to Magistrate Geoffrey Onsarigo for mention, with the next court appearance scheduled for August 26, 2025.
