Makueni County gets two superior courts

The Judiciary has inaugurated two courts at Makueni Law Courts in Makueni County.

Deputy Chief Justice, Philomena Mwilu, launched a High Court and the Environment and Land Court (ELC) on Thursday, March 2 at Makueni Law Courts in Wote town. She also installed two judges – Justice Charles Kariuki, the Makueni High Court Presiding Judge, and Justice Charles Mbogo, the ELC Judge.

The establishment of the superior courts in the area will bring justice closer to the people putting to an end the difficulties residents experienced by covering long distances to access judicial services.

Speaking during the event, Justice Mwilu said it is the obligation of the Judiciary to have a High Court in each county.

“I am acutely aware of the challenges that face the people of Makueni County generally and in regard to access to justice in particular, and I am encouraged by the positive impact the establishment and operationalisation of these two courts will have on the people of Makueni County,” the DCJ said.

She commended the county administration under the leadership of Governor Kivutha Kibwana for supporting the Judiciary in the establishment of the courts adding that the Judiciary looks forward to continued cooperation and strategic collaboration towards further expanding and improving the courts in the county for the benefit of her residents.

Justice Mwilu said that over the past few years, the Judiciary has taken significant steps towards enhancing access to justice across the country through, among others, a robust and expansive court construction and rehabilitation programme.

On his part, Prof Kibwana commended the Judiciary for being a strong defender and protector of devolution and hailed its transformation saying that the Judiciary is now a citizen-friendly institution.

He said that it is a landmark to have superior courts in the area adding that his administration will do everything possible to support the Judiciary to facilitate administration of justice. He said that the County Government has already allocated land to Judiciary, in Wote town, for the Construction of the High Court.

Others present at the inauguration were: Makueni County Commissioner, Alex Ole Nkoyo, Machakos High Court Presiding Judge, Pauline Nyamweya, Acting High Court Principal Judge, Jessie Lesiit, Head of Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Division of the High Court and President  of the Kenya Magistrates and Judges Association (KMJA), Justice Hedwig Ong’undi, LSK representatives, Registrar Magistrates Court Peter Mulwa and other Government and elected leaders.

Makueni High Court exercises supervisory jurisdiction over Makueni, Tawa, Kilungu and Makindu Magistrates Courts in Makueni County.

The courts have been operational since deployment of Judge Kariuki and Judge Mbogo in January by Justice Maraga. Makueni Law Courts was gazetted as a High Court by the CJ vide Gazette Notice No. 296 of January 9, 2017, to be operational with effect from the same date.