The outgoing Bungoma High Court Judge, Justice Stephen Riechi has called upon media and communication stakeholders to collaborate in disseminating important information concerning the judiciary to the public.
Speaking with West Media in an exclusive interview, a day after the official opening of the Customer Service Center, Justice Riechi revealed that most people shy away from bringing matters to the court since they do not understand the services that are available to them or how to access them.
He said that the court is now working towards moving registries to one central place and developing a system where the public can query the status of their cases without the need to appear physically. This, he says will instill integrity and simplify the court process “people should have confidence in the judiciary.”
The Judge also said that they have set targets, dealing with 12 witnesses in a day where each witness gets a maximum of 30 minutes. Based on this; civil cases will not take longer than 2 years.
Justice Riechi, who has been the Presiding Judge for four and a half years, has seen the digitization of court processes hence hastening the civil process. Commenting on the issue of succession,” the Bungoma Law Courts have ensured a policy for those outside the country or in rural areas to connect virtually hence reducing case delays when witnesses are unavailable.”
To the incoming judge, Justice Riechi pointed out the issue of infrastructure, and requested a more spacious court to accommodate the Court of Appeal since the nearest Court of Appeal is in Kisumu.
Despite having Bungoma Law Court, which was started in 1996, there are other satellite courts in Webuye, Kimilili and Sirisia. Plans to build a court in Mt. Elgon are underway.
By Elizabeth Chege