Chief Justice (CJ) Martha Koome has officially launched the e-filing system and the alternative Justice System (AJS) as well as the high court sub-registry at the Maralal Law Courts, Samburu County.
During the launch of the e-filing system, Koome noted that it is designed to streamline the process of filing cases, pleadings, easy tracking of cases and improve overall experience for litigants and legal practitioners.
“We have ensured that with the digitization, cases can be filed remotely even using a mobile phone and genuine court charges generated automatically accompanied by an e-stamp. We are embracing the principles of transparency, accountability and responsiveness and gone are the days when court files would disappear.
This system is integrated with the Uadilifu e-system operated by the Office of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and we will establish a Judiciary dedicated desk at the Maralal Huduma center to assist litigants,” CJ Koome added.
At the same time, the CJ said that the launch of the High court sub-registry in Maralal will greatly reduce the distance of filing High Court cases which were being filed at the Nanyuki or Nyahururu High Courts which are hundreds of kilometers away.
“Now with the gazzettment and commissioning of the High Court sub-registry we are now in a position to set aside time for High Court sittings at the Maralal Law courts, this will alleviate hardships and unnecessary costs on parties and resolve long pending matters,” she said.
Further, the CJ launched an Alternative Justice System (AJS) in Samburu county dubbed ‘Loip’ to handle petty matters and will be headed by the Samburu council of elders.
She said that Loip will be beneficial because it is closer to the people, affordable, easier to access, familiar, less bureaucratic and serves as a form of restorative justice.
“Loip will prevent injustice and reduce harm suffered by people by focusing on root causes of injustice and of justice needs of entire communities or societies rather than just individuals. Therefore, Loip is geared towards the goal of having in place an accessible, efficient, cost effective and an expeditious system of justice,” said the president of the Supreme Court.
David Lentiyo, a member of the Samburu council of elders welcomed the integration of Loip in the judicial system noting that some cases are better handled at the village level.
Samburu county governor Lati Lelelit requested the CJ to establish a court in Baragoi and wamba towns to bring justice closer to the people.
Lelelit noted that there has been an influx of land related disputes since the subdivision of group ranches and trust lands into individual title deeds in Samburu County.
“In the last three years, families have sought redress in court on land related matters and that is why we welcome the high court sub-registry in Maralal and also the establishment of Magistrates courts in Baragoi and Wamba,” the governor said.
The Chief Justice was accompanied by Justice Issac Lenaola, Justice Anthony Ndung’u and Justice Joel Ngugi among others.
By Robert Githu
