Nakuru residents want Chief Justice David Maraga to intervene to end the backlog of cases still pending in court, saying delays only escalate their agony as they seek justice.
The residents, who spoke to the Nation Wednesday outside the Nakuru Law Courts, accused judges and the Directorate of Public Prosecutions of slowing the hearing and determination of cases.
A resident of Bondeni, Josiah Ongiro, said he has been following up on a case involving immigration on behalf of his wife for many years.
“The last time I was here was on March 19 and I was told to come today. I arrived here hoping that they can lower the bond terms. Still, no response today. I’ve been told to come again in September,” said a frustrated Mr Ongiro.
He said they appealed the Sh3 million bond his wife was slapped with after illegal Tanzanian immigrants were found to have rented her house.
“I urge the chief justice to do something about this trend. If there is shortage of judges, just act on it. Just do something because we are tired of following up this cases and our families are suffering psychologically” Mr Ongiro said.
A report that was released last year by CJ David Maraga revealed that 60 percent of cases are not heard and determined in the same year they are filed.
The report indicated that the reason for this is that either a lawyer or the court seeks adjournments of the cases.
The Judiciary report stated that close to half of the unresolved cases in Kenyan courts have dragged on for more than three years.
It further stated that an estimated 45 percent of the 327,928 pending cases as at June 2018 had been before the courts for more than three years.
Magistrates’ courts and the High Court recorded the highest overall backlog.
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