Court Users Committee

In an effort to actualize the transformation in the judiciary, a committee for court users in Kiambu County has been reactivated.

During an inaugural meeting yesterday at a Kiambu hotel, the chief magistrate Mr. Stephen Kibunja said there was need to open up the courts to the users and the public at large so that justice is seen to be done.

Mr. Kibunja noted that transformation was inevitable, as the court process was the only media which would be taken to sieve those who were on the wrong side of the law in the society and ensure that corrective measures were taken.

While chairing the first meeting, he observed that those who interacted with the officers in the institution should be transparent so as to not to create suspicion of any nature.

Mr. Kibunja said it had become extremely necessary to reactivate the court users committee because the judiciary derives her authority from the people who must have their take through various institutions which could educate and expound on her activities.

Members of the committee comprised of the District Commissioner, the children’s’ department, Police, Prosecution, Prisons, Probation, Information, Faith based and advocates representatives and the judiciary.

Members agreed that other members shall be incorporated into the committee later, depending on their need.

The committee had been operational in the nineties but had become inactive because of some challenges which were facing the judiciary.

During the meeting, the Kiambu District Probation officer Mr. Japheth Nzaro was unanimously elected to be secretary to the committee which shall be meeting monthly to review and assess the progress of the transformation exercise.

During the meeting the County children’s coordinator Mr.Mwambi Monga’re said that civic education about children’s rights be done through the churches as they had a wider network. He added that courts should speed up hearing of cases where children were involved so as to ensure that they were not made to suffer unnecessarily.

It was noted during the meeting that the population of Kiambu county had gone up to about 260,000 people against only 200 police officers, and that it was a challenge for the security personnel to comb the area with ease. The OCPD therefore called the courts to be handling cases with speed so as to avoid pilling of the same.

Members observed that there was a big crowd always in the court corridors, and some appeared to need help. Therefore, they said a customer care desk should be established at a conspicuous location so that all clients were guided so as to ease congestion in the facility.

The members supported the transformation of the courts which recommended alternative dispute resolutions as a way of ensuring that only difficulty cases were taken to court.

The national court users committee in Kenya is chaired by chief justice Dr.Willy Mutunga which ensures that issues pertaining to the court management are carried out harmoniously and all questions emanating from clients in the far-fetched rural areas of the country are attended to.

The date for the next meeting was set for October 22^nd.