The Law Society of Kenya (LSK), Busia Chapter, has joined their counterparts across the country in the declared industrial action to demand accountability from the judiciary.
Led by their Chairperson, Dollan Nabulindo, the advocates said that the Judiciary has let down the entire justice system due to corruption, lack of accountability, and poor relationships between the Judiciary and the advocates/litigants.
“The Judiciary has to wake up, especially when it comes to the e-filing system, which is not operational,” she said, adding that advocates are forced to revert to filing hard copies.
She pointed out that litigants are complaining that their cases are taking long to be dispensed with in court, taking up to 10 years and beyond.
“We are also saying that most judicial officers take time outside instead of working,” she said, adding that the judiciary should ensure that there is a smooth workflow.
The Chairperson told their clients that the industrial action is for not only the benefit of advocates but also the entire justice system.
West Kenya LSK Vice President Maxwell Okeyo said that the strike is meant to ensure better services from the judiciary.
“We appreciate the digitization of the process of administration of justice, but we must also point out the challenges we are facing as advocates across the republic of Kenya,” he said.
Okeyo pointed out that advocates are forced to go an extra mile to print the court pleadings and bring them to the court files even after carrying out the e-case filing.
‘This one has hampered the administration of justice because the litigants do not know the court procedures,’ he said.
He added that there are delays in judgments by the court with cases taking so many years.
“The issue of compromise of judicial officers is bedeviling our system across the country,” he said, adding that the affected judicial officers should be held accountable.
Tyson Ouma, an advocate in Busia, said that there was need for engagement between judicial officers and the advocates.
‘The Judiciary is failing to take judicial notice that the LSK is part and parcel of the administration of justice,’ he said, adding that programs that have been initiated tend to leave out advocates to give their views.
Otieno added that clients are asked to pay cash bail promptly, but when it comes to claims, they are told that the judiciary does not have money.
“This does not affect the advocates, but it affects the general public,” he explained.
The advocate, at the same time, expressed concern over the transfer of pro-bono services from the judiciary to the National Legal Aid, arguing that it will lead to delays in discharging justice since systems have not been put in place.
By Salome Alwanda
