Chief Justice David Maraga on Friday officially opened the Kakamega Law Courts, in a move set to enhance access to justice in the region. Speaking during the function, Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya said the Courts will improve access to justice for the people of Kakamega County and requested for the Appeals Court to be there, “We request the Court of Appeal to be sitting here in circuit so our people don’t have to go to Kisumu. This will reduce cost and save time.”
The Governor also announced that his administration will allocate one acre of land in Likuyani Sub-County for construction of a Magistrate’s court. This, he added, will reduce the cost and time taken by residents of the County’s Northern region seeking access to justice.
On his part, CJ Maraga commended the partnership between the County Governments and the Judiciary that has seen the smooth flow of events leading to opening of Courts, “Instead of the Judiciary buying land, Governors have at no cost allocated to us parcels of land to construct courts, and for this l have to commend the close cooperation between the Council of Governors and the Judiciary,” Maraga said.
He urged judges and magistrates to serve with integrity. He said the JSC is recruiting 50 magistrates and one will be sent to the Kakamega Law Courts to start a small claims court meant to handle matters of low monetary value. He added that a sub registry shall be opened and the Employment and Labour Relations Court judges will be going to the Kakamega Law Courts every month instead of cases being handled in Kisumu.
He also revealed that one of the rooms in the Courts building complex will be used for ICT support to enable residents do e-filing. The Chief Registrar of the Judiciary Anne Amadi urged the justice community in the region to ensure the launch translates yo efficient services to residents now that work is being conducted in an enhanced environment.
