CJ Martha Koome today met with the Governor Dr. Wilber Ottichilo of Vihiga County to engage on enhancement of justice delivery in Vihiga County and the larger Western region.

Governor Otichillo highlighted the most challenging justice concerns in the region as: the rampancy of Sexual and Gender Based Violence; land issues and succession matters.

The Governor particularly observed that gender based violence remains an issue of great concern.

“SGBV matters are hardly processed to the end owing to lack of witnesses. There is need for the entire justice sector to engage with the community to eradicate the vice by addressing the root causes and finding long lasting solutions. Vihiga is one of the few counties that that has established a Gender Violence Rescue Centre.”

CJ Koome announced that the Judiciary is set to establish a Mediation Centre and an Alternative Justice Systems Centre in Vihiga. She noted these initiatives may be best suited to deal with land and succession disputes. While SGBV matters are criminal matters and not admissible under the alternative dispute resolution platforms, community engagement may address the preventive side of the vice.

CJ Koome lauded Governor Otichillo for his initiative in setting aside land at Emuhaya for construction of a court.

“The Judiciary aspires to establish a court in every Constituency, and with the establishment of the court in Embuhaya, we are inching closer to this goal and Vihiga County is leading the way,” said CJ Koome.

Chief Registrar of Judiciary Hon. Winfridah Mokaya confirmed that the Judiciary has secured the budget to operationalize Emuhaya Court in this financial year to bring justice close to the people.

Judge Reuben Nyakundi who is the Presiding Judge, Vihiga, appreciated the cooperation with the community for making the Court Users Committee inclusive and noted that the County Government is a key member. He highlighted the need to address drug and substance abuse in the community which is often the root cause of SGBV.

The Chief Justice is on a service inspection tour of some courts in Western Kenya to meet with the justice delivery foot soldiers – the Judges, Judicial Officers and staff. She will also meet with court users committees and identify challenges and opportunities to enhance justice delivery.