Written by Joseph Amunya Otieno 2012-02-03 18:50:00 Read 396 Times

Plans to have a local magistrate court established in Lugari district received a boost when the District Development Committee (DDC) approved it and appealed to the office of the Chief Justice to expedite the process.

In a special DDC meeting convened at Lumakanda TAC hall, members of the committee led by Lugari senior district officer, Mr. Richard Ajwang, unanimously supported the move saying it was long overdue.

Supporting the proposal, area police boss, Mr. John Leshimpiro, said that with a human population estimated at about 400,000, Lugari district urgently requires a magistrate court in order to help reduce the ever increasing cases of crime in the area.

Mr. Leshimpiro added that the need to have a court in the area has also been necessitated by calls to the Judiciary to help decongest a bulk of criminal cases at the magistrate courts in Eldoret, where all criminal suspects from Lugari district are usually taken for hearing and judgment.

The police boss further observed that by putting up a court in the district the government would have drastically cut down its daily expenditure in terms of fuel and car maintenance that is spent on ferrying suspects to and from Eldoret.

According to Mr. Leshimpiro, because of the distance between Lugari and Eldoret, most cases involving criminals from Lugari district are normally delayed due to consistent failure by accused or witnesses in arriving on time during their mentioning, adding that in some instances, once confirmed as guilty, the convictees are sometimes given lighter penalties including a one day Community Service Order (CSO) to avoid over-saturating the already congested Eldoret prison facility.

“In such a scenario it becomes difficult for my officers to fight crime because they get discouraged seeing criminals even the hardcore ones walking back in society after being awarded softer penalties,” said the police boss.

Appealing to area residents not to approach the proposed project with suspicions, the senior district officer said that having a court established in the district was part of the government’s efforts to bring justice services closer to citizens and above all beefing up security in the area.

“The presence of a functioning court build will in itself be a stimulant to reducing crime and related vices in this area,” said Mr. Ajwang.

Representing Eldoret Senior Principal Magistrate, Mr. David Kemei, confirmed that the bulk of criminal cases currently being handled in Eldoret courts are from Lugari, and especially those involving drug abuse and sexual abuse.

Noting that the Judiciary was in the process of implementing its sector reforms including having improved and increased courtrooms, Mr. Kemei urged area leaders to properly sensitize members of the public on the importance of having such a government unit in the area.

He promised to take up the matter with the office of the Chief Justice in Nairobi.

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