Man Sets Himself on Fire Outside Supreme Court; Judiciary Responds

In a shocking act of desperation, a man set himself on fire outside the Supreme Court on Tuesday morning, March 11, protesting what he claimed was delayed justice in a long-standing legal battle.

According to a statement from Judiciary spokesperson Paul Ndemo OGW,  James Kipira arrived at the court’s entrance around 9:30 a.m., carrying documents and a bottle filled with liquid. Witnesses had revealed that he placed the documents on the ground, doused himself in the flammable substance, and attempted to ignite the fire.

"He initially tried to light a fire on his neck, but it failed. Then, he squatted and ignited the flames from his lower body," a witness recounted.

As the fire spread across his body, Kipira frantically tried to save himself, shedding his burning jacket and shirt before collapsing near the court's entrance. The strong smell of petrol alerted security personnel, who rushed to the scene with a fire extinguisher, successfully putting out the flames before further harm could be done.

Photo of the Judiciary buildings in Nairobi. /THE JUDICIARY

Emergency responders from Nairobi County arrived swiftly, transporting Kipira to the hospital for urgent medical attention.

Documents retrieved at the scene revealed Kipira's frustration over a prolonged legal case stemming from a 2023 car sale agreement in Mombasa.

He had paid a Ksh300,000 deposit for a vehicle intended for a taxi business but was involved in an accident while driving it to Nairobi. The car, which was uninsured, had to be returned to Mombasa at his own expense.

The sellers, citing an agreement that exempted them from liability for accidents involving the uninsured vehicle, refused to refund him. Instead, they demanded the full Ksh 1.3 million payment for repairs before releasing the car.

Unable to resolve the dispute, Kipira took legal action, but the case had dragged on for months without resolution.

Following the alarming incident, the Judiciary vowed to investigate the matter and determine whether Kipira's self-immolation attempt was directly linked to a court case.

"The Judiciary is actively reviewing this case to establish the facts and address the concerns raised," the statement read.

The shocking event has sparked widespread debate on access to justice in Kenya, raising questions about the efficiency of the legal system and the desperate measures some individuals feel compelled to take when they believe their voices are unheard.

The man's actions occurred amid mounting frustration with the Judiciary, which is grappling with a significant backlog of cases under Chief Justice Martha Koome's leadership.

As of May 2024, the Court of Appeal had 13,331 pending cases, further intensifying public criticism over delays in the justice system.