The Bonga na Judiciary event which was held countrywide in almost all the court premises on 31st January, turned out to be a platform where Litigants were sharing their disappointments with the ways of the judiciary System.
Although the main reason for the event was to have a dialogue between the judiciary and other justice stakeholders and the public, similar events in most counties turned out to be a show mercy event, while in some the senior court officials took advantage of pointing fingers to other just justice sectors for failing the justice system.
In the Bungoma Law Court dialogue event, presided by Chief Magistrate Josephat Gishimu, a call for embracing the court-annexed mediation seemed to carry the day during the event, with a warning on the threshold of the cases to be solved through mediation.
“Not all cases meet the threshold to be heard in court. Even during our ancestor’s time, there were no formal courts but cases were solved. Let’s embrace other social institutions for help.” Chief Magistrate Gishimu insisted.
In a Kitale law court event presided over by Hon. Mr. Justice Christopher Kyania Nzili, the Police department and the office of the public prosecution in Trans Nzoia County were faulted for delaying submitting cases in courts, with most documents not properly completed. According to Justice Nzili, this act has really tainted the judiciary system, as most court users fail to get proper justice.
Nevertheless, Justice Nzili was quick to note that the best way to decongest the Kitale Medium Prison is to embrace alternative justice-seeking methods, mostly mediation and early release of small dispute offenders.
In a similar event held at Vihiga Law court premises in Vihiga County, most of the litigants who got a chance to contribute to the dialogue event were quick to point out injustices done to them on the face of the judiciary system.
A larger percentage of complaints come from Widows on land and inheritance matters.
“I started my case at the bottom ladder, from the Chief’s office to the District Officer’s office. For start, they were interested in the case, but when they realized I had nothing to offer, they went mute on me. When I ran to the court, the mention was too much until the case went mute” A widow narrated.
Hon.Lady Justice Jacqueline N. Kamau of Vihiga Law Court assert that all the complaints made were looked into, although she has encouraged witnesses to come out when called to testify more so on gender based violence cases.
Lady Justice Jacqueline noted that the main hindrance in most cases in Vihiga County is witnesses not attending court sessions when needed.
Similar Bonga na Judiciary event was held in Kakamega, Busia, and Webuye Law Courts.
