The Kisumu Law Courts. [Photo/ mediamaxnetwork.co.ke]
Kisumu High Court Judge David Majanja on Monday confiscated the phones of those attending court proceedings at his courtroom.Justice Majanja took the drastic action after the court participants failed to disclose the owner of a phone that rung while he was presiding over a case.The owners of the phones picked their phones on Monday afternoon after the judge showed leniency, as he had earlier announced that everyone in the courtroom should pick their phones on February 5.This comes barely four months after Justice Majanja directed security officers to lock-up a witness in the court cells for using language that he deemed as demeaning to the female gender. The witness, Yusuf Odongo, was testifying in the Jack Ranguma election petition challenging the victory of Kisumu Governor Professor Anyang’ Nyong’o.Odongo unapologetically referred to Julie Soweto, the lawyer who was representing the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) in court as "my dear".Justice Majanja issued a stern warning to the participants, stating that he will issue a more harsh punishment to those whose phones will cause distractions in the courtroom.