Bungoma Law Courts were on Tuesday morning thrown into confusion and mourning after a 75-year-old man collapsed and died while waiting for his case to be heard. The incident occurred shortly after 9 a.m. when the elderly man, who had a pending matter before the Environment and Land Court, arrived at the court premises appearing visibly unwell.
Witnesses said he was ferried to the courts on a motorcycle and immediately caught the attention of Judiciary staff, who noted his frail condition. A customer care officer quickly issued him a Priority Card — typically reserved for the elderly, persons with disabilities, expectant mothers, and those who are unwell — to enable him to receive faster service.
Despite being advised to seek medical attention, the man opted to wait for his advocate after learning that his matter would be mentioned later in the day. He lay on the grass outside the court compound, accompanied by his brothers, as they awaited the advocate’s arrival. When a court official later went to update him on his case, the man was found unresponsive.
Police and medical personnel were immediately called to the scene, but the man was confirmed dead upon examination. Preliminary investigations revealed that the deceased was from Chwele and had a history of heart disease. His body was later taken to Bungoma County Referral Hospital morgue for preservation and post-mortem examination.
Court sessions were briefly suspended as officers and medical teams handled the situation, but normal operations resumed later in the afternoon. The Judiciary expressed its condolences to the bereaved family, noting that the man’s identity would be released once his next of kin had been informed.
The tragedy has reignited public concern about health and safety preparedness within court facilities, particularly in light of a recent incident at the same premises. Just weeks earlier, five people were injured when a firearm accidentally discharged during a criminal hearing inside High Court No. 2. That episode caused widespread panic and temporarily disrupted proceedings.
With the death of the elderly litigant following so soon after the accidental shooting, Bungoma Law Courts have now experienced two major emergencies in less than a month. The twin incidents have prompted renewed debate on the adequacy of emergency response systems and medical preparedness within judicial institutions across the country.
