The Ol Kalou Magistrate Courts will soon open its doors to offer justice to residents of Nyandarua County, Principal Magistrate Rhoda Yator has said.
Yator, who chaired the court’s maiden court users’ committee, noted that a few logistical challenges had delayed the opening that was anticipated for October 3, this year.
She however noted that once all the users were comfortable with the arrangements set, the doors will be opened for justice.
The court that was opened in 2020 by former Chief Justice David Maraga as a Small Claims Court, meant to offer the residents the much needed ease of access to justice as they relied on Nakuru and Nyahururu law courts. It will be a second magistrate court after Engineer law courts that serves the Southern parts of the county.
“We need to bring as many police stations as possible to use the court to increase its workload to at least 500, a day. I am here to work and mine will be a ‘not-so-open-door policy’ as I will not entertain anything that will compromise on justice delivery,” cautioned Yator.
The court that is faced with the challenge of remandees having to be transported as far as Naivasha, Nakuru and Nyahururu remand facilities, has also called on the Prisons service to consider putting up a remand prison on its land in Ol Kalou town.
“We have enough land that has been set aside for the prison department and we will be glad of it was developed. As at now, Nyandarua Prison only admits convicts serving less than two years,” regretted Chief Inspector, Erick Ochieng.
The single courtroom that has eight staff to start with, will soon enjoy more space with the anticipated opening of the Nyandarua High Court, whose construction is at an advanced stage.
The high court has allocation for six magistrate court and operationalization of the Ol Kalou Magistrate Court will set the ball rolling for its operationalization.
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) members expressed regret that the town was littered with quacks who masquerade as lawyers to con residents.
Led by Advocate Marion Muthoni, the members vowed to help the court wipe out all quacks who were mainly involved in commissioning of oaths and affidavits.
Yator noted that all due procedure will be followed while filing pleadings adding that a valid practicing licence will be a must have.
Police Stations to be served by the court will be Mirangine, Ol Kalou, Ol Jororok, Ngano and Wanjohi. The officers commanding the stations agreed on logistics on how inmates will be ferried to Nyahururu remand Prison, in Laikipia County.
By Anne Sabuni
