KMJA Joins Legal Challenge Against EACC Search of Thika Chief Magistrate
The Kenya Magistrates and Judges Association (KMJA) has entered a high-stakes legal battle defending judicial independence. On July 8, 2025, the High Court granted KMJA permission to join Chief Magistrate Stella Atambo’s petition challenging Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) search warrants.
Atambo, who serves as Thika’s Chief Magistrate, filed the petition to contest search warrants the EACC obtained during a corruption investigation targeting her. The case highlights growing tensions between Kenya’s judiciary and anti-corruption agencies over investigative procedures involving judicial officers.
The KMJA’s involvement signals broader concerns within Kenya’s judicial system about protecting magistrates and judges from what they may view as overreach. The association represents hundreds of judicial officers across the country and rarely intervenes in individual cases unless constitutional principles are at stake.
The petition specifically challenges the validity and scope of the EACC search warrants, though detailed allegations in the corruption probe remain undisclosed. The case could establish important precedents regarding how anti-corruption agencies conduct investigations involving judicial personnel.
The High Court’s decision to allow KMJA’s participation suggests the case carries significant implications beyond Atambo’s individual circumstances. The matter touches on fundamental questions about judicial independence, due process, and the balance between accountability and protection for judicial officers.
Further court proceedings will determine whether the EACC search warrants violated proper legal procedures or constitutional protections for judicial personnel.
