The Milimani Chief Magistrate Court has held a family open day, a timely and noble initiative that seeks to bridge the gap between the court and the public.
Speaking during the launch at the law courts on Friday, Chief Justice (CJ) and the President of the Supreme Court Martha Koome stated that the initiative was set to provide a platform to sensitize members of the public about the obligations, services and processes of the family court.
“The creation of a dedicated family court is therefore a transformative step to enhancing access to justice, especially for the vulnerable groups,” said Koome.
Referring to the Constitution, she stated that “the family is a natural, fundamental unit of the society therefore, in this nature of trying to hold and live the experiences of justice, we must work together.”
Acknowledging the establishment of the Family Magistrates Court in 2023, the CJ appreciated the courage and dedication of the head of the station stating that it is now standing as a flagship model of Judicial reforms.
Highlighting statistics, Koome announced that in the year 2023 a total 2,383 new cases were filed and impressively 2,355 cases were concluded demonstrating a strong commitment to efficiency and effective service delivery from the onset.
The CJ added that in 2024, the court’s performance continued on an upward trajectory with 2,960 cases filed and even a higher number of 3,308 cases finalized.
Projecting on Article 139-2C of the Constitution, Koome said that it is important that family courts champion baseline and versatile approaches to justice that restore rather than rupture family relationships and ties.
Expressing her deep concerns about grappling with domestic violence, Koome urged for protection against domestic violence seeing that the country is currently facing a magnitude of cases including femicide that has become a national tragedy.
“Today’s Open Day is meant to deepen our commitment to people-centred justice, to foster stronger partnerships, and to reimagine how family courts can become a space of healing, a space of promotion of harmony in our communities,” highlighted Koome.
Principal Judge of the High Court Justice Eric Ogola, in his remarks appreciated being part of the initiative that is showcasing the future of the family court and suggested opening of similar courts in major cities in the country.
“This is something to reflect on because, during my time in the family division, I was challenged and when this court was established just three years ago, we were handling around 20,000 cases, many of which were resolved; currently we are dealing with 2,000 cases, and this is being managed by only three judicial officers,” said Ogola.
In attendance were officials from the Court Users Committee (CUC), and Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Kenya who noted that the Open Day is a true reflection of the collective commitment to ensure that justice is not only done, but also seen, understood and accepted by Kenyans.
The officials said that the theme for the Open Day ‘Bringing Justice Home,’ is a powerful reminder of shared responsibility to make justice accessible, practical, and responsive to the everyday lives of the people we serve.
By Muhati Venesa
