An Integrity Committee (IC) has been formed at the Makueni Law Court to ensure highest standards of integrity, transparency and accountability in administration of justice.
The members of the committee will include the Makueni Presiding Judge (Chair), a representative from the Law Society of Kenya, Office of Director of Prosecution, National Police Service, Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and Civil Society Organization.
Others are a representative of the Court Users Committee (CUC) Integrity Officer (deployed to the Station), Court Administrator and any other member who can be co-opted by CUC.
The Committee was formed during a County Court Users Committee (CUC) meeting chaired by Makueni High Court Judge Teresia Matheka held at a hotel in Wote town on Thursday.
During the meeting, Justice Matheka called for teamwork by all stakeholders to ensure seamless delivery of services so that wananchi can access justice in the courts quickly.
“We need concerted efforts from all stakeholders to tackle issues emanating at the court so that we resolve the problems and ensure people access justice in our courts,” said Justice Matheka.
Some of the functions of the committee are to ensure the court upholds and maintains a corruption-free ecosystem, identify, address and resolve complaints and integrity concerns and monitor ethical compliance and adherence especially to the judiciary’s code of conduct.
The committee is also charged with promoting ethics awareness which can be realized through training, sensitization and integrity initiatives with the people at the local level.
The Presiding Judge disclosed that there were 5,625 active cases at the High Court where 1,133 are pending and 4,822 have been concluded. 643 cases are less than one year, 1-3 years there are 335, 3-5 years 67 and matters over 10 years is one case respectively.
In the Lower Court, there were 9,676 whereby 2,858 are pending while 7,366 have been closed. 1,221 are less than one year, 1-3 years there are 962, 3-5 years 409 and 10 years 44 cases.
Speaking at the meeting, the Environment and Lands Court Judge Elijah Obaga appealed to the members of the public to come to the Makueni Law Court where they will be sensitized on mediation on Thursday 03/04/2025.
By Patrick Nyakundi
