Chief Justice Martha Koome has reaffirmed the Judiciary’s commitment to bringing judicial services closer to the people and enhancing access to justice across the country.
Koome made the remarks after holding a consultative meeting with Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa at the governor’s office, where they discussed ways of strengthening collaboration between the Judiciary and the county government.
She said the Judiciary is working towards ensuring that all sub-counties in Kakamega County without Magistrates’ Courts are equipped with the necessary facilities to improve access to justice.
“We are here to foster the partnership and collaboration we have had with the county government, which is a key stakeholder in service delivery. We are also here to assess the justice needs of this county,” said Koome.
The Chief Justice lauded the progress made under devolution, noting that Kakamega County now hosts a Court of Appeal, which has significantly reduced the burden on litigants who previously had to travel to Kisumu or Nakuru to have their cases heard.
“We are grateful that Kakamega now has a Court of Appeal with a growing caseload. This has eased access to justice for residents who previously had to travel long distances to seek appellate services,” she added.
Koome emphasized that the Judiciary will continue working closely with the county government to ensure that underserved areas such as Likuyani and other sub-counties without courts are prioritized.
“We have listened to the justice needs of residents in areas that lack Magistrates’ Courts, and we will work together to ensure that people do not have to travel long distances to access justice, which is a fundamental service,” she said.
Governor Barasa welcomed the Judiciary’s efforts, terming the establishment of a Court of Appeal bench in Kakamega as a historic milestone that had not been achieved since independence.
He also commended the creation of a Small Claims Court in Mumias, noting that it has improved access to justice for traders and small-scale business owners.
“I want to thank the Judiciary for establishing the Court of Appeal bench in Kakamega and the Small Claims Court in Mumias. These institutions have greatly enhanced service delivery, especially for the business community,” said Barasa.
The governor noted that the collaboration between the Judiciary and the county government aims to improve service delivery and ensure residents have easier access to justice.
He revealed that the county government is set to establish an Alternative Justice System, which will be officially launched by the Chief Justice within the next two months.
“As a county, we are going to establish an alternative justice system to promote mediation as a way of resolving disputes. This will complement formal court processes and enhance access to justice,” he said.
Barasa further disclosed that the Judiciary has agreed to operationalize a County Court at the Kakamega Law Courts to handle matters related to county legislation.
Director of Public Prosecutions Renson Ingonga used the occasion to caution politicians and members of the public against making inflammatory statements and inciting violence.
“We must stop issuing inflammatory statements and recruiting youths into goonism. Anyone found culpable will face the full force of the law. We must all support peace in this country,” he warned.
Ingonga also urged the media to play a proactive role in promoting accountability by exposing individuals engaging in incitement and reporting such cases to law enforcement agencies.
By Melechezedeck Ejakait
