The Judiciary will in the next few weeks deploy members of staff to newly established court in Kenol town, Murang’a South.
Chief Registrar of the Judiciary Ms. Anne Amadi has said they are working out to send a magistrate among other court workers and equipment to the facility so that residents from Murang’a South sub county can easily access judicial services.
Amadi observed that the new court is expected to help locals seeking justice not to travel for long distances to get court services.
She spoke on Friday during a ceremony when the new court that was renovated from a former government building at Kenol was handed over to the judiciary.
The building which houses the court was refurbished at a tune of Sh. 700, 000 by Maragua NG-CDF after the national government gave out the facility to be converted to court.
Amadi said the new court will increase the number of courts in the country to 128 saying it will reduce case backlog to neighbouring courts including that in Kandara and Kigumo.
The Kenol court will increase courts in Murang’a County to five. Other local courts include the one in Murang’a town, Kangema, Kigumo and Kandara.
“I’m glad to say that this court is the first and only court so far with compliance to covid-19 protocols meaning that it is safe and secure,” she said.
The registrar added that furniture, internet among other facilities will be fitted so as to make the court operational and relieve residents from traveling too long to seek justice.
She lauded the cooperation between various departments of the government which came together and supported the initiative of establishing court in the fast growing town.
“Having this court here does not mean we want the rate of crime to increase, what I can do is appeal to members of the court users’ committee to embark on societal intervention to curb criminal activities like brewing of illicit liquor, bhang trafficking among others,” she added.
Maragua MP Mary Waithera said the local NG-CDF has set aside Sh. 14 million to kick start construction of the court building since the new building is hosted in an existing office.
She said that the government had factored a one-acre piece of land where the courts will be constructed saying the project is expected to start before the end of the current financial year.
She praised the Judiciary for coming to the rescue of people of Murang’a south saying despite bringing judicial services near, the facility will also ensure creation of job opportunities, spur businesses around the area.
“On a lighter note, this court will in one way or another scare away offenders and criminals as justice is near now,” she observed.
Waithera pleaded with the judiciary to deploy workers as soon as possible saying the court needs to be serviced by a committed magistrate who will ensure the case backlog at Kigumo and Kandara law courts is reduced.
Security officers led by Murang’a court police commander Josephat Kinyua praised the new court saying it will help them cut costs of taking suspects to courts located far from the locality.
“We usually incur huge transport expenses when taking suspects to Kandara or Kigumo courts. This facility will help us to cut such expenses. The court will also help to decongest Murang’a prison as suspects from this area will not be held at Marajau police station,” added Kinyua.
by Bernard Munyao
