New court houses worth Sh68m built in Bungoma

One of the new rooms at Bungoma Law Courts. The facility will help reduce the backlog of cases dating back to 2000. [PHOTO: TITUS OTEBA/STANDARD]

The completed Sh68 million building at the Bungoma Law Courts will be handed over to the Judiciary today.

The building, which has three court rooms, magistrate chambers and a boardroom will have three judges stationed there permanently.

There have been complaints from the public, including lawyers, over the slow dispensation of justice, which the Judiciary blamed on the few available courts and magistrates to handle the cases.

Kenya Law Society (LSK) Western Chapter Chairman Andrew Kituyi, said there are over 4,000 cases that have not been concluded for the past 16 years because of the few judicial officers.

“With the availability of this facility, justice will be served well and I am calling on magistrates to handle and determine the cases on time to avoid the backlog currently being experienced, because it hurts and is very expensive for the local mwananchi,” he said.

Three Star Construction Company Managing Director Rodgers Murunga said the storeyed building needs Sh11 million to be completed.

He said work done on the building is up to standard as a result of the expert knowledge they have in construction.

“We have done work that is up to standard and we are sure the building will serve locals well. We have expertise in the construction industry, and it justifies the work done using taxpayer’s money,” he said.

A court user, Lumumba Wekesa, said the new building is a blessing to the judicial process, and called on the Government to consider purchasing more land where courts will be constructed to help serve residents better.

 more courts

“The new court house will help, but the portion of land where the facility stands is very small. We need four more High Courts to add on the one that we have, something that has led to dragging of cases hence demoralising other court users,” he said.

He called on the Government to post more judges and magistrates to the Bungoma Law Courts to help in faster handling of judicial matters.

Mr Lumumba said lack of enough magistrates has been occasioned by the low number of court rooms.

“But with the establishment of the new facility, the Government can now deploy more magistrates to help reduce the backlog of cases, which have been pending for years,” he said.

Bungoma Law Courts serve the counties of Bungoma, Busia and parts of Trans Nzoia.