The Judiciary has launched a training programme for chiefs and their assistants in Kisumu to enable them effectively participate in the judicial process.
Kisumu Chief Magistrate Julius Ng’ar Ng’ar said under the programme, the administrators are being trained on their role on succession law, sexual offences act, alcoholic drinks act and their role in community.
This, he said, would see some matters dealt with by the administrators to reduce a backlog of cases in court adding that currently Kisumu court has a backlog of 1800 cases mostly succession, criminal and civic.
The training, he said, was part of the Judiciary’s initiative to promote alternative dispute resolution mechanisms to ease the work of courts.
He added that it would also enhance access to justice and at the same time help fight bureaucracy and corruption.
Ng’ar Ng’ar made the remarks during a Judiciary open day held at the Kisumu courts to sensitize area residents on the role of the judiciary particularly on dispensation of justice.
He thanked members of the public for turning up in large numbers saying their criticism had helped improve service delivery.
The annual event which is organized by the Court Users Committee was flagged off by a representative from the Attorney general’s office Caroline Lang’at.
Lang’at said the courts aimed at shifting their transformation focus from capacity enhancement to improving service delivery in order to strengthen the oversight organs of the Judiciary.
“We appreciate the country’s judicial system for enabling us run such a forum that will help the public know the role of the courts,” she said.
The event offered the public unrestricted opportunity to go round interacting with judicial stakeholders such as registrars, magistrates and advocates and talk about advocacy, legal representation, and pro-bono legal services, civic and legal matters.
Lady Justice Wanjiku Cherere reiterated the judiciary’s commitment to serve the common mwananchi and encouraged the members of the public to play their role in order to achieve justice.
Kisumu Law Courts encompasses four other subsequent courts in Tamu, Winam, Nyando and Maseno with David Majanja as the presiding judge.