Win for residents as CJ Koome opens Dagoretti law courts

Nairobi, 

Friday, 11 October, 2024 

McCreadie Andias 

Residents of Dagoretti Sub-County in Nairobi can now acess swift and effecient justice within their Constituency as Chief Justice Martha Koome has officially inaugurated the much awaited Dagoretti Law Courts at the DCC road Kwa mbao on Friday afternoon. 

"It gives me immense joy to preside over the inauguration of the Dagoretti Law Courts, which is a new court station that will bring justice closer to our people in more ways than one. 

This is a personally fulfilling day for me because it represents the realization of a long-held vision that directly responds to the justice needs of our people, particularly in the Nairobi Metropolitan Area"Chief Justice Martha Koome said. 

The move marks a significant step in addressing the overwhelming caseload concentrated in Nairobi City County and its neighbouring counties. 

The Dagoretti Law Courts will not only decongest the caseload pressure at the Kibera and Kikuyu Law Courts but will also reduce the distance and time that community members need to travel to seek justice.

The court station but will handle between 1000-1500 cases will house a Small Claims court, Gender Justice Court for sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) cases, and a Magistrates’ Court.

The Court will also enhance the ease and swiftness in resolution of commercial disputes within the area by hearing and determining cases whose value is below KSHs 1 million. This move is intended to create an enabling environment for traders and businesses in Dagorreti to thrive by ensuring access to justice in a simplified, efficient, and cost-effective manner. 

The move is part of the Judiciary's goal of ensuring that every sub-county (constituency) has access to a Magistrates Court. 

Nairobi has been grappling with acess to justice as only 3 constituencies(Kibera, Makadara, and Milimani) have fully operational Magistrates Courts Out of the 17 constituencies within Nairobi City County. 

The gap has left the vast majority of the city, 13 constituencies, without adequate access to justice, resulting in delays in the hearing and determination of disputes and growing frustration among those seeking justice. 

"The launch of this court today is therefore not just the unveiling of a new building or the establishment of an additional court. It is a reaffirmation of our unwavering commitment to the constitutional right of every Kenyan to access justice. It symbolizes the Judiciary’s pledge to bring judicial services closer to the people, including underrepresented communities, and to respond innovatively to the evolving needs of the people" CJ Koome noted. 

The Judiciary has also envisioned to reduce proximity of courts to less than 100 kilometers by establishing and operationalize a Magistrates’ Court in each constituency. 

The launch of the Dagorreti Magistrates’ Court increases the number of Magistrates’ Courts to 140. However, there are150 constituencies that still do not enjoy the presence of a Magistrates. 

According to the Judiciary, Nairobi City, along with Kiambu, Machakos, and Kajiado counties, accounts for about one-third of all cases filed in Kenya. In 2023 alone, 91,085 cases were filed in magistrates' courts within Nairobi City County.

Lack of enough judicial infrastructure in the capital has overwhelmed the decongesting of massive cases necessitating the need for more court infrastructures in the city.