Download PDF - The Judiciary

State of Judiciary 2011-2012
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to mainstream this area in legal practice in Kenya. Discussions on
the rates payable on Pauper Briefs and Legal Representation are
also ongoing.
The Judiciary Transformation Framework recognises the need to
establish Small Claims Court under the critical pillar of improving
access to justice. The Small Claims Court Bill (2007) is still awaiting
debate, amendment and passage by Parliament.
As a medium-term intervention, the Judiciary has launched a
mobile courts initiative to increase access to justice for underserved
areas of the country. High Court stations, which have supervisory
authority over subordinate courts, have been charged with
overseeing and guiding the dispersal of mobile court services.
Magistrates, Kadhis and other judicial staff will be supplied with
tents to enable them to hold court in Daadab, Wajir, Mandera and
Garissa. Similarly, the High Court in Kitale will be the nerve centre
of mobile court services for Kapenguria, Turkana and Lokichoggio
while Malindi will introduce mobile courts in Mpeketoni and Hindi
islands.
The High Court in Busia has been tasked with delivering mobile
court services to Budalang’i while the High Court in Homa Bay
will serve Mbita and Rusinga Island. The High Court in Machakos
will also be required to provide mobile court services to Kitui
and Mwingi. In order to facilitate mobility, all court stations have
now been supplied with a Land Rover to enable them to deliver
services, an improvement on the 80 stations that had Land Rovers
in the previous year. In the case of Homa Bay, the purchase of a
boat will enable judicial officers to reach people living on islands.