Meru lawyers threaten to down tools

Lawyers working in Meru County have threatened to down their tools if the government does not deploy a judge to replace the Justice Muga Apondi, who retired from service and was attached to the Meru Law Courts.

The over 80 lawyers issued a 30-day strike notice to the Judiciary saying that the delay or failure to re-deploy another judge will lead to a backlog of cases and delay delivery of justice.

According to the lawyers, the newly appointed Chief Justice, David Maraga, had allowed the Meru Council of Elders, Njuri Ncheke, but argue that the elders are not qualified to do the job.

“How can you give the Njuri Ncheke a job meant for a judge? Even though they do play a role, we need a judge,” said Ken Muriuki, chairman to the lawyers.

The lawyers say the absence of a judge had led to a backlog at the law courts and this may lead conflict between the involved parties.

The lawyers argued that the only judge posted at the Meru Law Courts was not in full capacity to do the job that should be done by three people.

“Currently, we only have one judge working on all the cases, but we need two more,” said Muriuki.

They now want some of the recently recruited judges posted to Meru to help ease the administration of justice.

“We have seen they recruited more judges, and if Meru will not get a posting, we will go to the streets.”

Written by Atieno Mboya