Praise for new Kisumu court facilities

The newly-opened 14-chamber court in Kisumu has come as a relief for the public, who previously had to squeeze in congested rooms.

The situation was so bad in the old building that in some chambers, only lawyers, their clients and the judges could fit with no seats for anyone else.

Some rooms were too hot for afternoon sessions and the largest could barely hold 50 people.

The court registry housed three different divisions, making it difficult to access files, even for the judiciary staff.

Cases will now be heard in the new building that will also have an office of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, offices for the judges and magistrates, a bigger court registry and an office for the Witness Protection Agency.

A NEW BEGINNING

Richard Onsongo, chairman of the Western Kenya branch of the Law Society of Kenya and former East Africa Law Society president Aggrey Mwamu on Friday said that the new court facilities would make it easier for locals to seek justice.

The lawyers also said that the court ushered in a new beginning as the land where it stands had previously been grabbed.

“The LSK branch here in 2005 had demonstrated against the grabbing of this land because we were angry that we were congested, and someone want to take over our land meant for a new court. The new building is a sign that justice should prevail,” said Mr Mwamu, who was then the Western Kenya LSK chairman.

Mr Onsongo asked Chief Justice Willy Mutunga to use his position at the National Council for Administration Justice to add furniture to the courtrooms for the comfort of the public.

“Now that we have moved to a new courtroom, we also want the court to be anew. The use of stenographers and electronic recordings should now be incorporated in the proceedings to ensure that justice is even more hastened,” said Mr Onsongo in an interview in Kisumu on Friday.

The new court will also have a public library in honour of retired Court of Appeal judge Onyango Otieno.

When the Chief Justice opened the new court last month, Mr Onsongo had also asked him to open a Supreme Court sub registry.

“There is no need for lawyers form this region to go to Nairobi to file cases with the Supreme Court,” he told Dr Wily Mutunga.

The court was paid for with part of Sh10.8 billion World Bank infrastructure loan.

APPELLATE JUDGES

Speaking at the function, Kisumu Court of Appeal presiding judge David Maraga said the new, more comfortable facilities would improve the speed with which justice was served.

“We were cramped in one room where we sometimes even had to displace a High Court sitting so we could sit. But with this, the Court of Appeal is spacious and can accommodate more people,” said Justice Maraga.

The opening of the new court also coincided with the arrival of three Appellate judges to the lakeside city.

Justices Agnes Murgor, Gatembu Kairu and Daniel Musinga will now sit with Justice Maraga who will continue being the presiding judge.

Justices Sankale ole Kantai and Festus Azangalala were moved to Nairobi.

Chief Registrar of the Judiciary Anne Amadi, speaking at the function where calls were made for the CJ not to retire early, said that the old court buildings would still be used.

“They will be renovated because they are a monument. Built in 1940, the same court can be used with minimum improvements,” Ms Amadi said.