JSC summoned over transfers of magistrates in Maua courts
Lawyer Michael Ngunjiri at the Meru Law Courts on January 16, 2017. He is representing lawyers and residents in a case seeking the posting of more magistrates to the Maua courts. PHOTO | AGNES ABOO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
A Meru High Court has ordered the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to appear before it on January 30 in a case where residents want additional magistrates posted to the Maua station.
The case before Justice Alfred Mabeya has been filed by Meru lawyers and Maua residents.
Justice Mabeya said the matter was of public interest and urgent because Maua residents had a right to be served like other Kenyans.
The residents and lawyers were represented in the case by Michael Ngunjiri, who sued the JSC, Attorney-General and Registrar of the Judiciary.
The case was set for January 30 after the court heard that the respondents had not been given enough time to respond.
Mr Ngunjiri said many cases at the Maua Law Courts, which also serves as a mobile court in Garbatulla, Isiolo County, are still unattended.
“Three magistrates were transferred, leaving a senior resident magistrate, who cannot preside to determine matters that exceed Sh7 million. Only two were replaced. Late last year, another magistrate was transferred," he said.
He added that the Garbatulla mobile court's operations had been affected by the transfers.
