Kiambu Law Courts to resume, go online Monday
Kiambu Law Courts are set to resume their operations next week using virtual means so as to reduce backlog of cases.
According to Senior Principal Magistrate Stella Atambo who convened a meeting with court users committee in Kiambu law courts yesterday, the courts will give priority to children cases and suspects in custody.
‘We need to upscale on our operations since the public wants to know when the court will resume and also not keep on pushing dates further for those who are in police custody and needs to take plea. We are putting priority to children matters,” said Atambo.
Atambo said petty offenders cases especially those flouting Covid-19 guidelines will be heard at Kirigiti and Ndumberi Stadiums both in Kiambu sub-county to avoid congestion at the court rooms.
Traffic offences will be heard at the police stations. Those whom want appeals be made will be done so virtually.
‘We are going to use video conferencing and zoom technology in cases which needs mention to avoid them coming into court and also look at cases of petty offenders that will be solved at the police station through cash bail and those that needs plea will be done in open court at stadiums within Kiambu,” she said.
The magistrate said that the judiciary is advocating for alternative dispute resolution mechanism to be utilized at the police station to avoid many cases to pile up and yet parties involved can agree.
She encouraged the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution in police station before the matters get to courts
Alternative dispute resolution should be really utilised at the police stations and where parties are in agreement we will find a way to deal with them,” said Atambo.
Atambo further said that in succession matters the judiciary will give priority to those parties that are in agreement and will treat those arrested for flouting Covid-19 directives by the ministry of health as petty offenders and have an appropriate sentence.
Nelius Muchoya deputy officer in charge of Kamiti Youth Collective Centre said that the remandees are not able to attend court due to the Covid-19 regulations but mentions are being done virtually.
