By Wamuzi News Ke A man set himself on fire outside the Supreme Court in Nairobi, reportedly in protest over delays in his legal case.
The victim, identified as James Kipira, sustained critical burns during the Tuesday morning incident. Emergency responders from the Nairobi County government quickly arrived at the scene and rushed him to the hospital.
Eyewitnesses recounted that Kipira had arrived at the courthouse earlier in the day and initially engaged in a conversation with security personnel before carrying out his act. He had brought a container filled with petrol.
According to bystanders, he poured the flammable liquid over himself and pulled out a lighter. Security officers took notice of him, particularly because he was carrying a stack of documents.
“He first attempted to ignite himself by setting fire to his neck, but it failed. He then crouched and managed to light a fire from his lower body,” one witness described.
As the smell of petrol spread, security personnel rushed to check on the situation and discovered him engulfed in flames. In an attempt to extinguish the fire, Kipira removed his jacket and flung it aside. He also took off his burning shirt while stumbling a short distance away from the court’s entrance. Security guards quickly intervened with a fire extinguisher.
An ambulance soon arrived and transported him to the hospital for treatment.
Documents recovered from him revealed that his distress stemmed from a car purchase dispute dating back to 2023 in Mombasa. Reports indicate that he had paid a Sh300,000 deposit for a vehicle and had begun driving it to Nairobi when an accident occurred. Since the car was uninsured, he was forced to return it to Mombasa at his own expense.
The sellers had previously documented that they bore no responsibility for any accidents due to the lack of insurance. However, they later insisted that Kipira pay the remaining Sh1.3 million for the car before they would repair and return it. Frustrated with the prolonged court proceedings regarding the matter, he resorted to the extreme act in front of the Supreme Court.
Medical personnel and law enforcement officers later reported that Kipira expressed hopelessness and frustration over the justice system’s inefficiencies.
Senior officials visited the location as he was being taken to the hospital.
Meanwhile, the judiciary has yet to issue a formal statement. The court system continues to struggle with a backlog of cases, which has been attributed to a shortage of judges and other judicial officers.
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