Written by Joseph Amunya Otieno
2012-07-11 15:10:00
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Lugari District is set to get its first Magistrate Court this financial year after they petitioned the government to establish one in the district to allow the trial and sentencing of law breakers from the area.
 Speaking to West FM in office, the Lugari District Probation Officer Mr. Alex Gimnyigei said that plans to have a court established in the area were at advanced stage and is optimistic that the area will get the court this year
He said that minutes and other information explaining why the area required the facility were currently in the hands of the Chief Justice who is expected to give a way forward.
The optimism comes the same day the Chief Justice Willy Mutunga swore in 109 new magistrates Wednesday to serve in different parts of the country as the Judiciary aimed at reducing the backlog of cases in courts.
On the residents’ reaction Mr. Gimnyigei said that a recent survey carried out by his office indicates that majority of area residents have positively received the idea of having a magistrate court established in the district.
With more than three police stations, Mr. Gimnyegei pointed out that the district urgently requires a court which will also serve a human population of about 300,000.
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The probation officer added that the government was incurring a lot of expenditure while transporting suspects and witnesses to the nearby magistrate courts in Eldoret Town.
He further noted that the long distance between Lumakanda and Eldoret, which he said has over the years interfered with court procedures leading to a backlog of cases from Lugari, was another factor that has made area residents buy into the idea of a court being established in the district.
Mr. Gimnyegei disclosed that the area District Development Committee (DDC) has seriously taken up the matter and has already identified a temporary building within Lumakanda town adding that it was waiting to be handed over to the judiciary for the proposed court.
He, however, noted that plans are underway to construct a permanent court structure after Lugari County Council allocated land to the judiciary. Switch to Our Mobile Site |
