Chief Justice Martha Koome has opened 350 million Kapenguria Law court to enable West Pokot County residents get access to justice.
CJ Koome while addressing residents at Kapenguria said the project which was funded by World Bank it was in response to the Judiciary scheme strategy to extend judicial services to marginalize parts of the country.
Koome said as at December 2021 the court had a backlog of 180 pending cases at the High Court and 2,479 at the Magistrates’ court but the opening of the new court building will accelerate delivery of justice and cases not to take more than three (3) years in a trial court and more than one year on appeal.
She noted that opening of judicial courts across the country is commitment to open the doorways of justice to all Kenyans especially the marginalized communities like West Pokot county.
“The judiciary focus is really the marginalized and vulnerable people of this country so that they can also get justice on time.
She said the Kapenguria Law Courts Complex symbolizes our very audacity to reclaim our Agency to serve and
Court was the first African Court, set up to try six of Kenya’s founding fathers including President Jomo Kenyatta
“I hope that the significance of Chewoyet Secondary
School, where the six nationalists were tried, and
which sits adjacent to the West Pokot County. These monuments remind us how far we have in the same way we have preserved the Mombasa Assembly will be preserved as a corridor of Justice High Court and the Supreme Court Building, ” she said.
She said the government will construct a national monument which will remind Kenyans how far we have travelled with an aim of delivering justice.
She noted that the county has no court in the sub counties and are looking forward in setting up Law courts in Alale and Sigor.
CJ Koome said women in judiciary will mentor girls to help reduce cases of FGM and early marriages among school going children.
“The female professionals in the law firm will be given a priority in employment. They have set an example and motivate the girl child.” She said
Senator Samuel Poghisio said the government should track down the Chewoyet colonial court to be a national museum of Kenya.
West Pokot county governor John Lonyangapuo noted that the county government will set aside land for the construction of Law courts in Alale and Sigor for people to get services.
Lonyangapuo said the residents in those areas have to travel more than 200 kilometres to get justice and transfer of judicial office’s in other areas will deliver quick justice.
“We need a land court to help solve land dispute’s, land wrangles has been a pricking thorn to our people. The council of elders have been trying to solve the cases but we need premium attention to speed up the cases,” he said
He added that the residents have embraced education and West Pokot county has professionals in the judiciary who need to be employed.
The Chief Justice Koome was accompanied with Ann Amadi Chief Registrar, Judge Weldon Korir among other judicial officials.
