Tharaka-Nithi leaders differ with Judiciary over location of new court

A disagreement has emerged between the Judiciary and Tharaka-Nithi leaders over the location of a new High Court in the county.

Both Senator Kithure Kindiki and Governor Samuel Ragwa have separately written to Chief Justice Willy Mutunga demanding that the court, which was launched in Chuka on Tuesday, be relocated to the county headquarters at Kathwana.

“The CJ has assured us the matter is being looked at,” Prof Kindiki, who is the Senate Majority Leader, told the Nation by phone Thursday.

Prof Kindiki and Mr Ragwa also want all the national and county government offices to be based in Kathwana due to its central location as agreed by delegates from all the four districts in the area in 2012.

One hundred delegates from each of the districts met in 2012 and voted for Kathwana to be the headquarters.

It stands at a radius of about 100 kilometres from all the corners of the county.

“The issue of the headquarters had been settled. It should not divide our people. It’s a logistical issue that was unanimously agreed by all the county leaders. It is the peoples’ decision,” Prof Kindiki said.

“Even the County Commissioner and Registrar of Persons should operate from Kathwana,” he added.

CHUKA TOWN LOCATION

Chuka Town, where most of the government offices and services are currently located including the Huduma Centre, Prof Kindiki said, for instance, was 218 kilometres from Kathangacheni Town.

“That is the reason why Kathwana was chosen as it is roughly 100 kilometres from all the corners of Tharaka-Nithi,” Prof Kindiki said.

Kathwana however has harsh weather, its infrastructure is poor and it takes one or two days when it rains for one to reach there from far corners of the county due to bad roads.

The area, however, enjoys ample land for expansion and development and the county government is currently constructing its multi-million shillings offices there.

Prof Kindiki said Kathwana should be the county’s administrative capital as Chuka, Chogoria and Marimanti which have flourished due to proximity to the Meru-Nairobi highway remain Tharaka-Nithi’s commercial towns.

“All the county facilities that are being shared must operate from Kathwana as other towns develop for other purposes,” the Senator said.

“Any attempt to divide our people by taking facilities meant to centrally serve all county residents will be resisted with all the available political resources," he added.

Prof Kindiki said High Court judicial officials should be ready to work from Kathwana.

"I, as guarantor of political unity and cohesiveness of our county will work hard to ensure we insulate our county from petty rivalries and sectional competition that can hold back our pace of development," Prof Kindiki said.

NEW COURT IN CHUKA

Prof Kindiki's statement came as the Judiciary indicated the new High Court was being constructed in Chuka.

Addressing journalists outside Chuka Law Courts on Wednesday, Kerugoya High Court Deputy Registrar Juliet Kasam said the new court in Chuka will enhance service delivery by handling cases that were initially taken to Embu and Meru.

Ms Kasam, who is temporarily at Chuka High Court, is expected to set up the operations in one week’s time before the coming of the full time judge, Mr Justice Alfred Mabeya on September 22.

The Chuka High Court which was gazetted on July 31 officially started its operations on Tuesday.

Ms Kasam, who is also a Senior Resident Magistrate in Kerugoya, told the media that the court has already received case files from Meru and Embu and hearing would soon start.

Governor Ragwa has accused some local MPs and National Government officials of hindering efforts to locate key services to Kathwana as agreed by the residents.