The media fraternity in Mombasa has been challenged to spearhead efforts in sensitizing residents on the workings of small claims courts and e-justice services at the grassroots.
Several non-governmental and civil society organizations have taken the lead in popularizing small claims courts and E justice services to mitigate societal issues fronted to them and require litigation procedures to resolve.
Speaking during a sensitization workshop by Sisters for Justice Mombasa Chapter, Judy Philip, an advocate of the High Court urged Key stakeholders in community service, civil society, and the media to prioritize apprising the community on how small claims courts and E-justice services function.
She said the media in particular plays a major role in the process given that a good number of community members hardly know the existence or mechanisms of these courts.
She added that by design, small claims courts are specialized commercial courts that cater to matters involving small amounts of money below Sh. 1 million and that would ideally require hasty resolution but end up forming huge backlogs in superior courts, hence delaying the justice process.
“These courts simplify the processes involved in the whole issues surrounding litigation. From filing the cases online, cost-effectiveness and prompt timelines slated for resolution which is a maximum of 60 days,” said Philip.
Philip said the media plays a significant role in demonstrating how people-centred and simplistic the small claims courts and E justice services are and this can be achieved by sensitizing the community from the household level.
“Popularization of these services will heavily depend on how effectively the media will work with key stakeholders to ensure community members are acquitted,” added Philip.
In line with the Small Claims Courts Act, 2016 the Judiciary has operationalized the Small Claims Courts (SCCs).
On her part, Sisters for Justice Mombasa Chapter Director Naila Abdallah echoed Philip’s sentiments, emphasizing the need for community sensitization on the work of small claims courts.
She said that many civil society organizations and community-based organizations (CBO) handle many societal cases that involve litigation processes, some of which can simply be solved by small claims courts.
“We need to focus our attention on sensitizing the community on how useful these judicial services are to elevate our dispute resolution mechanisms from the community level.
Sisters for Justice is a civil society organization that focuses on advocacy for justice and the empowerment of women and children.
By Andrew Hinga
