Residents of Maara Sub-County in Tharaka Nithi County are set to enjoy improved access to justice following the official opening of Maara Law Courts, the 151st court station in the country.
The new court, officially operationalised by Chief Justice Martha Koome, marks a significant milestone in the Judiciary’s efforts to decentralise services and reduce the distance residents travel to access justice.
Speaking during the inauguration ceremony, Chief Justice Koome said the establishment of the court was part of the Judiciary’s broader commitment to ensuring that access to justice is not determined by one’s geographical location.
She said the Judiciary was working towards establishing magistrates’ courts in all 290 constituencies, adding that nine additional court stations were lined up for operationalisation during the current financial year.
Koome expressed optimism that the number of court stations would reach 200 before the end of her tenure, noting that every new court represented an important step towards bringing justice closer to the people.
She said Maara Law Courts was the first prototype of a model envisaged by the Judiciary and would serve as a benchmark for future court establishments in other constituencies.
The Chief Justice commended Maara MP Kareke Mbiuki and the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) committee for partnering with the Judiciary to establish the facility.
She also announced that the Judicial Service Commission would consider the Maara region favourably when recruiting judicial staff.
Koome called on the community to embrace Alternative Justice Systems (AJS), saying the Judiciary was committed to working with traditional dispute resolution mechanisms to provide more pathways to justice.
She challenged elders in the Meru community to refine the Njuri Ncheke traditional justice system to accommodate women and young people in line with the Constitution.
”The alternative justice mechanisms must uphold constitutional rights, particularly those of women and children,” said Ms Koome.
She, however, cautioned that serious offences, including defilement, cannot be settled through traditional mechanisms and must be addressed through the formal justice system.
”Defilement cases cannot be negotiated and must be brought through the justice system. Anyone who compromises such cases risks being charged with aiding and abetting a serious crime,” said Ms Koome.
She further called for concerted efforts to protect children against female genital mutilation, early marriages and other forms of abuse, adding that the judiciary would dedicate the entire month of November to handling children’s cases, urging judicial officers to provide services that are sensitive to children’s vulnerabilities.
The Chief Justice also encouraged residents to embrace court-annexed mediation, particularly in resolving family and succession disputes, noting that mediation could help parties settle disagreements without lengthy court proceedings.
Principal Judge Oscar Angote said the new station would significantly ease the handling of land and environment disputes, revealing that a permanent judge had been appointed to address the cases.
He said 269 cases would be transferred to Maara Law Courts, approximately 100 of which involved land matters, and encouraged residents to take advantage of the facility.
Angote thanked MP Mbiuki for facilitating access to the premises to enable the Judiciary to serve the people of Maara.
Chief Registrar of the Judiciary Winfridah Mokaya said the opening of the station was an historic milestone for the people of Maara, noting that the area had previously depended on Chuka and Marimanti courts for judicial services.
She said Chuka Law Courts had been handling approximately 2,100 cases annually, many originating from Maara, putting considerable pressure on the station.
She noted that the new facility was expected to take up about half of the matters previously handled in Chuka.
The Maara court comprises two courtrooms, each with a judicial chamber, alongside separate holding cells and ablution facilities.
She said the Judiciary had already disbursed funds to Chuka Law Courts for the purchase of furniture for the new station and had facilitated electricity connectivity through Kenya Power.
The first sitting at Maara Law Courts is scheduled for January 4, 2027.
Presiding Judge of the Chuka High Court Roseline Korir said the establishment of the Maara court would reduce the distance residents travel to Chuka and Marimanti to seek justice.
She observed that the growing population and economic activities in Chogoria and surrounding areas had also brought challenges that required an accessible judicial institution.
Korir encouraged residents to promote peaceful coexistence and embrace preventive mechanisms, including Alternative Justice Systems, to resolve disputes before they escalate into court cases.
Judicial Service Commission representative Evelyne Olwande described the new court as an example of responsive leadership, saying it represented hope and an assurance that justice was within reach of the people.
She urged residents to make use of the facility, safeguard its integrity and hold the Judiciary accountable for service delivery.
Governor Muthomi Njuki welcomed the establishment of the court, saying it would not only bring judicial services closer to residents but also reduce the financial burden associated with travelling to Chuka.
He called for collaboration between the county government and the Judiciary to establish another court at Kathwana, the county headquarters.
Njuki also urged stakeholders to strengthen alternative justice mechanisms, noting that some disputes could be resolved through community-based approaches before reaching formal courts.
He, however, raised concern over the exclusion of women from some traditional dispute resolution structures, particularly the Njuri Ncheke system, saying alternative justice mechanisms should be inclusive.
The Governor further linked illicit alcohol consumption to crimes against children, calling for concerted efforts to address the menace and protect vulnerable members of society.
Maara MP Kareke Mbiuki said the establishment of the court was a dream fulfilled for residents who had for years travelled to Chuka and Marimanti to seek judicial services.
He said the project was realised through a partnership between the Maara NG-CDF and the Judiciary, adding that the constituency had initially lacked essential government infrastructure when Maara District was established.
He described the inauguration as a historic moment for the constituency and thanked the Judiciary for partnering with the NG-CDF to deliver the project.
Earlier, Chuka Chief Magistrate Joan Wambilianga welcomed the establishment of the court, saying it would strengthen the administration of justice and provide residents with an opportunity to access judicial services closer to home.
She called for the establishment of Alternative Justice System centres in every sub-county, noting that the Chuka station was ready to support the initiative.
Tharaka Nithi County Commissioner David Gitonga assured the Judiciary and residents of adequate security around the new institution.
He said national government administrators and judicial officers regularly consulted to address challenges affecting service delivery and were already undertaking sensitisation programmes on alternative dispute resolution.
Gitonga also called for the training and certification of administrators as professional mediators to strengthen community-level dispute resolution.
Law Society of Kenya representative Lucy Kaaria welcomed the establishment of the court, describing the Chief Justice’s visit as an honour to the county and public service delivery.
She also appealed for additional judicial officers at Chuka Law Courts, which she said remained understaffed, to improve the administration of justice.
Chuka Court Users Committee representative Edward Kamundi welcomed the Chief Justice to Maara and reaffirmed the committee’s commitment to supporting the administration of justice.
Meanwhile, State Department for Children Services Principal Secretary representative Ann Thiong’o commended the Judiciary and other partners for facilitating the establishment of the court, saying it would enhance access to justice, particularly for children and other vulnerable groups.
She noted that the inauguration coincided with the Children’s Month and emphasised that justice for children must not only be accessible but also child-friendly.
