The Chief Justice Martha Koome has expressed concern at the alarming rate of sexual and gender-based violence cases in Bungoma County.
She noted that these cases were a societal problem and that there was a need for empowering families to know the position of a child in order to give the children the necessary protection and care they deserve.
The CJ who was talking to the area Court Users Committee (CUC) members said 54 cases of teenage pregnancies had been reported in the area and said that the number was alarming.
She noted that there were parents who did not have time for their children as they were busy working and asked that parents play the role of parenthood with the seriousness it deserves.
The CJ Commended the CUC for being robust as it is through it that they get feedback on what goes on in the justice system in the area and asked the members to work closely with religious bodies, area National Government Administrative officers to see how the GBV cases can be stopped.
She said that the correctional centres were full of young, strong people who are there for offences committed, situations that would have been avoided if the perpetrators were well informed of the consequences.
The CJ said the GBV and SBV cases will be given priority because victims are vulnerable and that it was not fair that the victims be stigmatised by the long time the cases take to be concluded. ‘We will try and open a registry for SGBV matters,’ she said.
She pointed out the need to root out agents in the court corridors whom she said wait for vulnerable litigants and solicit for money purporting to assist in the court cases.
“Be very vigilant sanitize the judiciary by getting rid of these agents and masqueraders who come to court to traumatize the litigants by taking money from them’, she said.
Earlier on the CJ met the Governor Ken Lusaka at his office where she said that only 17% of residents go to the formal court to solve their cases while 64% use alternative means to solve their disputes while 19% take no action.
She asked the judiciary to ensure that all those who seek an alternative justice system are recognised.
She thanked the County Government for allocating two acres of land for the construction of an ultra-modern court in an effort to improve the infrastructure at the court that will enable them to serve the residents and address their legal needs fully.
The CJ said the judiciary would look into the request by the Bungoma County to operationalise a county court that will enable the county to implement its by-laws.
She was accompanied by the Presiding Judge of the Bungoma High Court, Lady Justice Emily Ominde, and other officials from the Judiciary.
The judiciary operates formal law courts in Bungoma, Kimilil, Webuye and Sirisia.
By Catherine Nyongesa
