Yala: Newly established Yala law court held its maiden sitting Monday, bringing to five the number of court stations in Siaya county.
According to Kenya News Agency, Yala senior principal magistrate, Virginia Karanja, stated that the opening of the court aligns with chief justice Martha Koome’s vision to make courts more accessible to the public. The judiciary aims to reduce the distance traveled by citizens to access justice.
The magistrate, accompanied by the assistant director of public prosecutions for Siaya county, Joyce Mumu, and the Yala court administrator, Violet Kisoli, reported that 382 case files have been transferred from the Siaya law courts. These include 165 land-related files, 150 succession matters, and 70 criminal case files, with a commitment to expedite hearings.
Karanja encouraged the public to utilize alternative dispute resolution mechanisms recognized by the courts to alleviate case backlogs. Joyce Mumu expressed support for the new court, emphasizing its role in bringing services
closer to the community. Her office has been allocated space within the court premises, and she pledged ongoing collaboration with the judiciary and stakeholders to ensure quality public service.