Chief Justice Martha Koome has assured that courts will extend their working hours following a surge in mysterious abductions within a week.

In a statement released on Tuesday, CJ Koome condemned the abductions of over 15 activists by unidentified armed gangs.

"I have noted with deep concern the numerous allegations regarding the abductions of protesters amid the ongoing mass protests in our country. Such actions, executed by persons not identifying themselves and without presenting the abducted individuals before a court of law, amount to a direct assault on the rule of law, human rights, and constitutionalism, which are our guiding national values and principles of governance as enshrined in Article 10 of the Constitution," she stated.

CJ Koome urged justice agencies to process arrests lawfully and investigate the abductions urgently. She emphasized that courts are ready to extend their hours to accommodate these cases.

"Agencies within the justice sector, working under the auspices of the National Council on the Administration of Justice (NCAJ), have in the past committed to working towards ensuring that ours becomes a human rights-based criminal justice system that adheres to the Constitution, particularly the Bill of Rights, and the law. I therefore urge all agencies in the justice sector to process any criminal actions lawfully and to investigate and address the allegations regarding abductions related to the ongoing protests with utmost urgency," she added.

"I take this opportunity to assure the nation that the courts are prepared to operate beyond standard working hours if the abducted persons are presented before court and also to consider any petitions for habeas corpus. This commitment is to ensure that our nation continues on the path of the rule of law and constitutionalism and to guarantee that all state and non-state actors operate within the strict boundaries erected by our Bill of Rights."